According to Shirley Robinson Pippins, senior vice president for programs and services at the American Council on Education (ACE), the perception of community colleges is changing.
"Community colleges are increasingly seen as a great place to start and transfer to the institution of an individual's choice; and as a wise choice for a financially savvy individual or family--as opposed to an institution you attend because you have no choice, " said Pippins as part of her HigherEd Careers interview for HigherEdJobs.com. HigherEd Careers is a monthly series featuring chat room discussions with higher education experts about a current topic in higher education and its impact on the careers of the people who work at our colleges and universities.
One example of the increased presence of community colleges is the new situational sitcom on NBC, "Community." The show is based on life at a fictitious community college. "The fact that a sitcom is based on some fiction and some reality at a community college indicates the heightened presence of community colleges as an option in the everyday lives of Americans," said Pippins.
The changing perception of community colleges is reflected in the enrollment numbers, which have been trending upward. Pippins expects to see an increase in the number of adjunct faculty at community colleges to compensate for the increased faculty workloads due to increasing enrollment numbers. And according to Pippins, while many institutions might not have the resources to compensate for the increased faculty workload, the faculty at community colleges "will do what they can within professional limits to make the situation work to benefit the students."
Community colleges appear to be gaining attention not only from prospective students, but also from donors. The Community College Times recently reported that two-year institutions are having an easier time raising funds including major gifts that previously often went to four-year institutions. According to Pippins, this could be because the benefits are multi-dimensional when donating to a community college.
"You help the student, his/her family, his/her community, the community college and the range of four-year institutions to which many of the students transfer," says Pippins. "Students attending community colleges tend to stay in their communities even when they transfer, so they continue to enrich their communities."
To find out more and read the full HigherEd Careers interview with Shirley Robinson Pippins, click here.
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