Community College

Milliron, M. etl. No Need to Invent Them: Community Colleges and Their Place In the Education Landscape. November/December 2004. p.52-58.

The purpose of this article is to evaluate the roles of community colleges. Since its creation in the early 1900s, community colleges have proven to be an important factor in strengthening education. The authors Mark Milliron and Cynthia Wilson, discussed three elements of community colleges: educational, economic, and social dynamics.

Within the educational sector, the authors discussed the history of what is formerly known as junior colleges. They briefly spoke of the 1947 Truman Commission on Higher Education. The article stated that many people use community colleges as a stepping stone to better themselves. Offering various programs such as vocational training, basic classes to teach remedial students as well as continuing studies for graduates, community colleges have adopted numerous programs throughout the years to accommodate for the progression of todayÐ'ÐŽÐ'¦s society. Working closely with businesses, community colleges have become a valuable asset. Many corporations are requiring their employees obtain certifications; thereby requesting that they attend local community colleges.

The economic sector of the article is closely related to the education portion. Within this section, the authors discussed Alan GreenspanÐ'ÐŽÐ'¦s opinion on community colleges. Mr. Greenspan, the former chairman of the Federal Reserve, stated that community colleges are an essential part of the United States economy. His statement was made primarily due to the demand for on-the-job training. Instead of hiring new employees, many companies would rather encourage loyal workers to go back to school. They often push small incentives such as pay raises or extra vacation time upon completion of a course or graduation of a program. Many prefer to utilize community colleges because they are more capable of handling the demand for learning than universities. They are less expensive, offer flexible class hours and quality programs.

In the final element, the social dynamic sector, the writers discussed collegeÐ'ÐŽÐ'¦s role in helping students break social barriers.