- Cartoon: Maria Salvador
The jewel of California’s educational system, the community college, may soon be changing for the worse and losing the pieces that have made it so valuable.
The California state budget crisis and resulting cuts in the education budget have convinced administrators and lawmakers alike that the mission of the community college should be redefined.
In addition, Pierce is also gearing up for the accreditation process, which focuses attention on the college’s mission.
Currently, a very broad mission allows the colleges to provide educational opportunities to high school students, those seeking an associates degree, transfer students, workers seeking specialized certifications and mid-career workers seeking to improve their skills.
The amazing and beautiful thing about California’s community colleges’ is that they cater to such a large group of people and are inexpensive, thereby allowing access to education to anyone who wants one.
A college’s success is often judged by the number of its graduates. This is the wrong way to determine a community college’s success.
Every mechanic who returns to school and receives a certificate in a specialized program is just as much a success as someone who graduates with an associate’s degree.
Every master’s level executive who returns to college to improve their skills has succeeded as much as the student who transfers to a four-year university.
The mission of the community college does not need to be changed.
It is perfect exactly how it is right now.
Allowing anyone, no matter their age or education level, to return to school to improve their skills and create a better life for themselves is a good thing.
This idea should not be abandoned simply because times are tough.
Colleges should be receiving more money from the state and administrators need to cut corners while times are bad.
Achieving the American dream has become difficult lately, but obtaining a good education has always been key.
The community college’s mission and their services should be expanded not cut.
Everyone deserves the opportunity to return to college and improve their education and a community college allows them to do that.