Community colleges are the unsung heroes of our education system. They prepare today's workers for tomorrow's careers, and they get little support and even less recognition for their efforts. For millions of Americans, the local community college is the gateway to the American Dream.
But the American Dream is more than access to college. It's about a complete education and the better future that comes with it: a steady income, a rewarding career, a home in a nice neighborhood where you'd want to raise your family.
Increasingly, to achieve those goals, students have to get a college degree or a professional certificate after high school. According to every measure -- employment rates, wage premiums, labor forecasts -- students who get those credentials can seize opportunities that those who stopped their education with high school can't.
In 1973, only about one-quarter of the American workforce needed a postsecondary degree or credential in order to get or hold on to a job. In 2007, that figure hit 57 percent. New research predicts that, by 2018, 63 percent of jobs in America will require an education beyond high school. Unable to find enough skilled workers here, U.S. businesses are outsourcing millions of high-skill, high-wage jobs to Germany, Japan, Singapore, Korea and Canada.
That's why, at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, one of our top goals is to increase the number of young people who earn a credential or degree after high school -- and to increase that number dramatically. Because that is how they will set themselves up for a successful future.
This week at the White House, I met with, listened to, and learned from students, educators, and policymakers about how we can strengthen community colleges to meet these goals. It was fascinating, especially hearing from students about their goals and the obstacles they face.
I'd love to hear from more community college students. How did you make it through? What kind of support did you need to succeed? What could your school have done differently to help? What are you doing now?
The foundation has partnered with GOOD for the video, above, celebrating nontraditional students. Go to GOOD and submit your story.
I want to hear from you, because you have the firsthand knowledge about how to make community colleges work for young Americans.
Adjuncts teach most of the students at community colleges, yet are not included in any meetings, textbook decisions, curriculum decisions, or anything else that happens in the college -- we are supposed to be invisible and teach at the pleasure of the president; we can be dismissed at any time, for any reason and do not work on contracts.
So why do it? For the love of teaching, I guess. Because there isn't much else going on. And the constant potential of a tenure-track full-time position.
People should know this is what is happening in the community colleges. My experience happens all over this country, and it is a shame to be treated so poorly, and be paid so little. This is what your tuition is paying for -- you are getting a great education (hopefully) for little money, because of the very little amount of money paid to the faculty.
In the third week of the term, a young woman showed up to class with her baby; her sitter had bailed at the last minute and left her with no recourse but to either skip the class or show up and beg the instructor to let her attend with the child. The instructor said she could only do so if the class unanamously agreed to allow it; they had all paid tuition and deserved an uninterrupted session. All students agreed and the child was an angel, sleeping the entire time.
Many lessons are learned at community colleges, not the least of which is that community colleges offer those in the community the opportunity to learn in a cooperative environment that places a greater emphasis on community responsibility than on competition. There is plenty of opportunity for competition in the later years of one's education. I am presently wrapping up a masters degree at Portland St. University, and would not be doing so were it not for my experience at Portland CC.
Then add in the students, too many of whom are functionally illiterate with attitude. While some adult students, especially veterans, are in college to learn the same can't be said about many of their classmates. More than you might imagine are just taking up space because they have the price of admission.
Last week a student who didn't do the assignment was verbally abusive, when I pointed out the problems with the work. Because students have RIGHTS, and are entitled to warnings, reprimands, etc., before they can be suspended, an instructor can be put at risk.
Last year a student got violent in a classroom. The instructor said he would not be allowed back in class. The administrator overruled her and sent the student back. The instructor quit THAT DAY.
We need to find a way to address the psychological issues of entitlement, attitude and "you can't tell me what to do" that follow too many adult students into the classroom.
I absolutely love teaching, but I'm not sure how much more of this I can handle. No money, no benefits, no decision-making, larger classes, more illiterate students, and more psychologically stressed students.
Melissa Tosetti
www.TheSavvyLife.com
We can have 14 year olds in our CC classrooms and we're not allowed to ask who they are. So they receive extra help in the high school classes, and are anonymous when they get over to the community college. This is not working as many are failing in the community college atmosphere -- most of the classes are taught by adjuncts and we don't have much training in teaching the younger kids. I'm also concerned that young 19+ men are hitting on the 14-15 year-old girls -- and we don't know who they are. It seems like a potential disaster.
So maybe you should be glad you didn't take that Gates money.
No pardon.
I believe this is true for all accredited colleges.
The result is that at Microsoft, we are laying off Americans, while hiring foreigners, and wages haven't risen in years. And yet the executives just approved a huge pay raise for themselves.
This is how the rich screw over working people. And the Gates are part of the problem. The Gates are part of the people who want to devalue work. The Gates are part of the effort to dismantle the middle class and end democracy in the US.
You all need to see through the Gates scheme.
Thank you for supporting community colleges.
Community College also changed my life. Took me 10 years to get an A.A. degree, but then I went to UC Berkeley - graduated at 38!
Bill Gates uses khanacademy [dot] org to teach his kids , and so should you.
In my humble opinion the US educational system is a collection of self serving institutions that desperately need replacement with modern means.
I believe educational efficiency, how much useful info one learns per dollar spent and per hour dedicated, is an abject failure, and some combination of competitive, privately delivered, web based, group/teacher/mentor or self instruction could revolutionize the skillsets earnest students want and need to acquire.
As with many things, what you get from the college experience is what you put into it, The students need to learn how to make college work for them.
The biggest issue facing the CC where I work is that the students come from High School not knowing how to study, how to learn, how to spell, etc.
We need to prioritize K-12 education, and REALLY support it - stop the political lip service!