Your Community’s College
- What’s in a name: Over time, people have established notions of what community colleges are, oftentimes losing sight of the name. Community colleges are hubs of their communities. They exist to fill communities’ many needs and their interests. When you talk about your college, emphasize that community colleges are not just “two-year colleges” or vocational schools, but are vital centers of their communities.
- The World Economic Forum has declared that the new-and-future economy is a skills-based economy. According to the organization, "The rise of the skills economy is aiming to address a global skills shortage; Under this new paradigm, individual skills rather than traditional job credentials become the most important currency of work; and Skills-based organizations are more adaptable to change." Demonstrate how your college offers one-of-a-kind job-training and practical education designed to get students working and to help workers acquire the new skills they need to compete in an evolving working world.
- Community colleges partner with area businesses to create academic and workforce training programs designed specifically to meet the needs of employers and to qualify students for jobs that pay living wages. Showcase your institution’s business partnerships, and emphasize how those partnerships were created to address the needs of the community.
- Community colleges provide general education courses that lead to associate degrees and which can transfer to four-year universities for the completion of bachelors’ degrees, saving students significant amounts of money. But community colleges also provide classes created specifically to address the needs and interests of their communities—classes that may not be found at any other institution. Emphasize both the value and the uniqueness of your college and how it serves your community’s interests.
- Many community college students support or contribute to supporting their families. Most community colleges offer resources and flexibility that make it possible for students with other life commitments to enroll, stay enrolled and complete their programs. Talk about the community resources your college offers, and profile some students who benefit from them.
Public community colleges:
- Provide higher education to students who have the fewest resources and the greatest obstacles.
- "Are engines of economic mobility and dynamism," according to the American Federation of Scientists.
- "Can drive local inclusive economic recovery," according to the Urban Institute.
- Are the most in-demand institutions during and following times of economic recession and when workers need to acquire new practical skills.
- Are primary educators/certifiers of in-demand nursing and other healthcare professionals.
- Are there for their communities in times of crisis.
- Examples from Ohio, Nebraska, New York, Wisconsin and others throughout the country underscore their vital role in providing medical care.
- Community colleges are committed to meeting their communities’ basic needs, including access to food, housing, transportation, childcare and other services while students seek education and vital workforce training.
- Serve the most demographically and socioeconomically diverse students.
- Offer the most affordable high-quality higher educations.
- Guarantee fair admissions for all students.
- Make higher education that would be unattainable for many students accessible to all students.
- Are underfunded and need increased state support.
Information About Changing Perceptions of Community Colleges
According to a 2023 national survey of college and university students from New America:
- Eighty-five percent (85%) of Americans think community colleges are worth the cost, compared with 66 percent who believe
the same about public four-year colleges. - More than 82 percent said they were “comfortable” supporting community colleges with tax dollars, compared with 69 percent
for their four-year counterparts. By contrast, only 36 percent support tax dollars funding for-profit colleges and universities. - More than half of Americans believe that community colleges spend their money wisely (51%) and run efficiently (55%). By
comparison, 41 percent believe public and private nonprofit colleges and universities spend their money wisely, and 29 percent
believe for-profit colleges and universities spend their money wisely. - Fifty-eight percent of Americans believe community colleges are underfunded by state and federal governments. “Half or less
than half of Americans think other sectors of higher education are,” according to the survey. - “A majority believe that students need career-related support (88%), financial aid (87%), and academic support (85%). They also
strongly believe that colleges and universities must provide more, and favor the provision of housing (82%) and food (76%)
support and on-campus child care (70%),” according to the survey report.
Related information: