EFFECTS OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES ON LOW-INCOME MINORITY STUDENTS
The purpose of this paper is to examine existing research related to determining the influence of community colleges on the academic achievement and career development of low-income minority students. To add context to the review, the paper begins with a brief description and historical overview of community colleges in America.
Community Colleges: Definition and Historical Overview
O'Bannion (1989) states that the community, junior, or technical college--an American educational innovation--offers programs of study leading to two-year associate degrees, certificates, or other academic awards. Known as "two-year colleges," these institutions do not confer bachelor's (baccalaureate), graduate, or professional degrees; only Associate or two-year degrees.
Most American community colleges are public institutions receiving funds from state and local sources. O'Bannion (1989) reports that despite a good deal of variance in policies and practices, community colleges, in general, have eight distinguishing characteristics. These are: open admissions; a local service region, facilities readily accessible to citizens, low cost, a comprehensive educational program, diversified learners, commitment to innovation and nontraditional programming, and ties with community organizations.
Community colleges offer education geared to the needs of learners and their communities. Such colleges are primarily educational attempts to provide a direct link between preparatory education and the workplace; however, providing encouragement to students to continue their education at four year institutions and universities is also an educational goal of most community colleges (O'Bannion, 1989).
A comprehensive historical overview of the community college has been provided by Eaton (1987) who reports that the community college was originally conceived as an upward extension o...