Community colleges are a great way for anyone undecided on a career to discover themselves and their educational goals, but a growing trend in government is to rush students through this process. In the Spring 2012 District Student Survey, prepared by Pierce College research analyst Kate Astor, it shows that while almost three quarters of students want a degree within their lifetime, a quarter of students have initial goals that do not involve a fast track to a four year college.
Some of the initiatives to speed the time to transfer are “Community colleges: intersession extension programs” (AB955) which allows additional intersession courses, President Obama’s College Scorecard which provides rating information about colleges weighted for transfers and the California Community College Chancellor’s Student Success Scorecards which also provide the student with transfer rates for the community colleges.
In Pierce’s mission statement it says that the goal of Pierce is to help identify and achieve student’s educational goals, gain career experience and a “variety of enrichment activities.” President Emeritus of California Federation of Teachers Martin Hittleman spoke with the Roundup about the scorecards as well as President Obama’s new college rating system proposal.
“Every student who has come to a community college – the experience here has been successful,” he said. “They [students] grow, they learn a lot, they get more centered, they learn more about themselves, they go out into the world with more tools.”
Hittleman disagrees with the current trend of churning out degrees, saying that community colleges are not the sort of learning institution which should be comparison-shopped based on transfer ratings.
Although Pierce is a two year institution, not everyone who wants to leave in two years is able to. Also, it will take others at least that amount of time to discover what they wish to study and to get into those classes.
Students who are unsure of what they wish to study should not be forced to choose a path before they are sure of themselves.
While attending a community college, one can explore their interests while working toward a degree or transfer degree. The Career and Transfer Center in the Student Services Building is a great place to start.
The protagonist of MTV’s hit show “Daria” once stated “My wish is not to wake up at the age of 35 and realize I hate my life and job, because I was forced to choose a career when I was a teenager.” The same should apply to the students who are unsure of what to do with their lives.
