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Community Colleges: Getting America Back to Work

Created by HP InformED on Apr 1, 2011
Tags: education, workforce training, employment, hp virtual rooms, community colleges
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Community colleges play a key role in the nation's economic recovery, as non-traditional students and students whose parents can no longer afford 4-year universities are turning to local community colleges in large numbers.

For the rest of the article, download the PDF.

jpatrickobrien
Posted Feb. 13
Our community college system is one of the areas where our returns would be extremely high compared to our investement. They fill that no man's land between highschool and a four-year degree (which is not for everyone and often overpriced.)

America's problem is that we look at education beyond high school as a binary function. You either have a four-year degree, or you don't. And it's bad if you don't.

This attitude causes a clunky, sub-optimal labor market. For instance, an auto shop needs a mechanic. They need someone who has trained at a technical school. Witih the "four-year or nothing" attitude much of America has, they have A MUCH smaller pool of talent to choose from, as most people are funneled into jobs or a four year program after high school. If communty colleges were celebrated, more people would choose the education that's appropriate for them. Thus, potentially more mechanics, more options for companies, a smoother labor market.

Not sure how one goes about debunking the stygma that surrounds community colleges. It has to start in the high schools.
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Mike Chapple
Site Admin
Number of Projects 12
Posted Feb. 16
It's also interesting to note that only 13% of community college students graduate with debt. There's something to be said for leaving an educational program without that weight around your neck!
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