Community colleges serve as the college of choice for nearly half of all postsecondary students. The role of the community college continues to adapt and change, and the colleges that were once seen as vocational and technical schools now serve as a jumping off point to future educational endeavors and a variety of careers and occupations.…

Enrollment at America's community colleges has exploded in recent years, with five times as many entering students today as in 1965. However, most community college students do not graduate; many earn no credits and may leave school with no more advantages in the labor market than if they had never attended. Experts disagree over the reason for…

The purpose of this study was to investigate and examine the relationship of institutional factors students perceived to be important while enrolled in a community college. A student satisfaction inventory was administered on campus to collect data on first-time students perceptions of their college experiences. Results of the study indicated…

Recent research indicates that college students who transfer from community colleges are significantly less likely to complete a 4-year college degree than students who begin at 4-year institutions. This paper estimates models of college completion for both types of students. Based on these results, an Oaxaca decomposition indicates that students…

Drawing largely from institutional research prepared at Harcum Junior College (HJC), a private all-female two-year college in Pennsylvania, this report contrasts private junior college students with community college students in terms of their attitudes and values, reasons for attending college, rates of and reasons for attrition, and evaluations…

A study was undertaken to determine the extent to which the California Community Colleges (CCC) helped the state's welfare recipients obtain employment, increase earnings, and decrease welfare dependence. A literature review indicated that, while relatively few studies exist, community colleges do play a role in redistributing resources from…

When compared with university freshmen, students beginning their collegiate studies in community colleges are less likely to attain the baccalaureate. However, after equating for differences in the students' entering abilities, socio-economic background, employment status, on-campus residence, and pattern of attendance, the difference is slight.…

Educational systems in all nations are called on to accommodate people who are past the age of compulsory schooling but who desire further education that is not provided by the traditional universities. In the United States, the term "community college" is used generically for all publicly-supported institutions accredited to award the…

Over 17,000 credit students enrolled at Miami-Dade Community College (MDCC) in 1986-87 with no stated intention of obtaining a degree at the college. A study was conducted to examine the characteristics of non-degree students and to assess their potential for recruitment into further coursework and/or degree programs. Demographics were examined to…

California's community colleges face tremendous challenges, from diminishing fiscal resources to increasing student diversity. To meet these challenges, community colleges may have to transform how they think about themselves. Organizational restructuring in two-year colleges requires the adoption of a new paradigm about the nature of community…

The document provides information on revenue generated from tuition, fees, and other related financial sources relating to Iowa community college. Findings include: (1) the average annual full-time Iowa community college tuition increased $714 (49%) from fiscal year 1993 to 2002; (2) the average annual full-time Iowa community college tuition for…

This document discusses the effort to find groupings for the enrollment change in California's community colleges. The new groupings can be utilized by community college strategic planners to improve programs and services based on exploring and analyzing various enrollment shifts. The information can also be used to make enrollment projections for…

Drawing from studies conducted at Prince George's Community College (PGCC) between 1989 and 1991, this report offers a profile of developmental students at PGCC and an analysis of the remedial education needs of fall 1990 first-time students. The first section of the report reviews findings from a number of statewide and institutional studies…

Balancing the vocational and educational components in technical institutions today is difficult, requiring that faculty and administrators have vision, political realism, moral integrity, and energy. To understand better the rationale which underlies present forms of nonuniversity, postsecondary college education, a study was conducted at three…

Comparisons are drawn between the German "Volkshochschule" (VHS) and the American community college. After highlighting the mission of the VHS in promoting the socialization of its constituents, the paper contrasts the VHS and community college in terms of enrollment, admission, costs, programs, facilities, governance, organization, and…