Community Colleges offering 4-year degrees
Introduction
In this paper, I will be discussing the current trend of 2-year community colleges offering bachelor degrees. Community colleges begin adding bachelor degree programs in the early 2000’s. This shift started when community colleges notice that their community fell behind the state average for 4- year degree holders. Also, many of the communities were hit-hard economically with layoffs and closings. Therefore community colleges wanted to respond to economic pressures and create profitable workforce careers. Florida was the first state to implement this change to their community college system. After this, a growing trend developed in over 20 states for community colleges to have authorization to offer bachelor degrees. Lawmakers agreed that, many students cannot afford or get into state …show more content…
Students now have the option in certain community colleges to complete their prerequisites as well their remaining classes at a community college. This is a great benefit for students who want to avoid juggle costs of transferring. Earning a bachelor degree from a community college would be more affordable and convenient.
As a result, of having an affordable and convenient education, this would lead to higher enrollment and an increase of accessibility for the institution. For example, Gogebic Community College in Ironwood, in the western U.P., is more than two hours away from both Michigan Technological University in Houghton and Northern Michigan University in Marquette, where many students choose to transfer. However, Gogebic Community College have developed their own bachelor’s degree program. This would allow to work full time while continuing their education at home. Overall, students are saving both time and
Introduction
In this paper, I will be discussing the current trend of 2-year community colleges offering bachelor degrees. Community colleges begin adding bachelor degree programs in the early 2000’s. This shift started when community colleges notice that their community fell behind the state average for 4- year degree holders. Also, many of the communities were hit-hard economically with layoffs and closings. Therefore community colleges wanted to respond to economic pressures and create profitable workforce careers. Florida was the first state to implement this change to their community college system. After this, a growing trend developed in over 20 states for community colleges to have authorization to offer bachelor degrees. Lawmakers agreed that, many students cannot afford or get into state …show more content…
Students now have the option in certain community colleges to complete their prerequisites as well their remaining classes at a community college. This is a great benefit for students who want to avoid juggle costs of transferring. Earning a bachelor degree from a community college would be more affordable and convenient.
As a result, of having an affordable and convenient education, this would lead to higher enrollment and an increase of accessibility for the institution. For example, Gogebic Community College in Ironwood, in the western U.P., is more than two hours away from both Michigan Technological University in Houghton and Northern Michigan University in Marquette, where many students choose to transfer. However, Gogebic Community College have developed their own bachelor’s degree program. This would allow to work full time while continuing their education at home. Overall, students are saving both time and