Value Of Community Colleges

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It has been often said that finishing college does not produce the most intelligent graduates but rather the most disciplined of them. Yet, when considering nationwide graduation and retention rates of community colleges it appears students often decide college is not of great value to them or they simply cannot maintain stability between academics and making a living. In light of President Obama’s ambitious proposal to make community college tuition free, the talk about two year institutions has been centered around reform that would encourage greater student success . In his 2015 State of The Union President Obama addressed the importance of securing financial stability for the middle class and stated, “By the end of this decade 2 in 3 …show more content…
The value of America’s community colleges is demonstrated in their students success. Community College students added $809 billion in income to the U.S. economy within the past year, nearly 5.4% of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product and generated a return in investment for students, society, and taxpayers. However, students have often felt it necessary to prove they are receiving a credible education in comparison to four year or private institutions with lower, competitive acceptance rates. Despite controversial discussions many students are consistently choosing to pursue an associate's degree at these two year institutions. Helping underserved students earn a valuable education allows community colleges to succeed at training the workforce of this generation. The Community College Research Center at Columbia University has stated that institutions tasked with educating students with some of the biggest needs are given the fewest resources. As students from working class families attempt to further their education the personal and financial challenges they face can often lead them to question their priority towards obtaining a …show more content…
Although many students are choosing community college, they often need extra support and resources to help them realize their potential. Several programs have been introduced to help students such as Accelerated Study in Associate Programs, or ASAP, initiatives within the City University of New York that seeks to guide community college students to earn their degrees faster than usual. ASAP assists students in earning associate degrees within three years by providing a range of financial, academic, and personal support including academic and career advisement, tutoring, tuition waivers, MTA MetroCards, and additional financial assistance to cover the cost of textbooks. College Discovery is another CUNY initiative that has been established to provide academic support to assist capable students who otherwise might not be able to attend college due to their educational and financial

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