Community Colleges, A Smart Choice

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Students at Harold Washington College in Chicago\'s Loop engage in a science lab exercise. (Photo by Javet Kimble) According to the Illinois Board of Higher Education as of fall 2009, community college enrollment throughout the state has increased 6.4% to 380,025 students.
Students at Harold Washington College in Chicago\'s Loop engage in a science lab exercise. (Photo by Javet Kimble) According to the Illinois Board of Higher Education as of fall 2009, community college enrollment throughout the state has increased 6.4% to 380,025 students.

by Thelma Sardin

On Nov. 30, Former Secretary of State Colin Powell and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan joined forces to release a new report outlining the successes of schools around the country in combating the nations high school dropout rate. The report entitled, Building a Grad Nation: Progress and Challenge in Ending the High School Dropout Epidemic, was released by Americas Promise Alliance (APA). Statistics from the U.S. Dept. of Education and APA illustrate that in 2001, the national graduation rate was 72% and by 2008 the rate increased to 75%. The numbers suggest 120,000 more students graduated in 2008 compared to 2001. Figures also show within these percentages that the graduation rate grew in 29 states, as cited on NBCs Education Nation.

While Building a Grad Nation shows progress in the nations high school graduation rate, still some students rule out college all together because of lofty tuition costs. But some students are taking advantage of affordable rates community colleges offer. In Chicago, City Treasurer Stephanie Neely believes students can save money by attending a community college before heading to a four year institution. The sluggish job market has left scores of Americans unemployed and Neely suggests that a college education is mandatory towards providing some type of job security. If you graduate from college, the likelihood of being unemployed lessens, she said.

In a released statement, Neely elaborated on her position in support of community colleges. An associates degree is not only a step towards a bachelors degree, but it is also an affordable way for many students to define their interests and a set career path, she stated. She also mentioned the Dual Degree Program (DDP) at Governors State University (GSU). The DDP allows students to lock in the current tuition rate at GSU while working on their associates degree and any credits earned in the associates program will be transferred toward their bachelors degree, Neely stated. Also citing a recent figure about the financial benefit of attending a community college Neely noted, On average, the cost of a public two-year school in 2008 was $6,996 per academic year, while the average cost of a four year degree at that time was $13,424. By starting your college education in a two-year degree program, one can save nearly $14,000, she said.

Dr. Elaine P. Maimon, President of GSU recently discussed the merits of the DDP with the Citizen. GSU has DDP contracts with six local community colleges including South Suburban College in South Holland and Prairie State College in Chicago Heights. We are now recruiting the first group of students who will be in this very special program, said Maimon. GSUs president is thrilled about how the initiative will help students achieve their academic goals. The [DDP] focuses on a cultural change so we can help students become full time students straight from high school and have a smooth [transition], Maimon said.

One student at the City Colleges of Chicago is a prime example. Edgar T. Gonzalez, a traditional student at Harold Washington College (HWC), is president of the Student Government Association. He is currently working towards an Associates degree in general education with a focus on business. Gonzalez decided to attend a community college because, I did not have the funding or the grades to attend a 4 year university after high school, he said. Gonzalez has had a great experience in and out of the classroom at HWC. My teachers always challenge me academically, he said. He credits his role in the Student Government Association at the college as providing an enriching experience on campus. Admitting his decision to attend a community college was a financial one, Gonzalez chose HWC because, I knew that my parents would not be able to aid me in attending a fancy school like Columbia College or Loyola, he said.

Neely does have a bit of advice or students who are unsure of their life after high school or someone who is returning to school. She encourages people to be open to community colleges because, [it] is a great way to [be] introduced into the world of academia, she said.

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