College of the Desert is doing what it takes

Desert Sun 2/23/07

By Dr. Maria Sheehan

A recent report issued by researchers at CSU Sacramento says students in California's community colleges find it difficult to earn an associate's degree or transfer to a four-year institution. The report, Rules of the Game, said the primary "barriers to completion" were state policies that limit or restrict funding to community colleges.

We agree there's a need to remove such barriers. But Rules of the Game also includes sweeping statements that suggest the community colleges of our state are not doing their job.

We are doing it

College of the Desert is very much doing its job as evidenced by another report that came out in January. Accountability Reporting for Community Colleges (ARCC) is a state-mandated assessment of community college performance tracking six measurements of achievement. In five of the categories, COD ranked higher than its peer group.

One category, Student Progress and Achievement Rate, is defined as the percentage of first-time students with intent to complete and who achieved any of the following outcomes within six years: transferred to a four-year college, achieved transfer status or earned a degree or certificate. The figure for COD in the years 2000-2006 is 47.7 percent.

Not included in this indicator of success are the hundreds of students who come to us annually to take just one class to improve skills and/or prepare for a job interview or to expand their educational experience with that one course they always wanted to take.

If a student takes one or two classes and as a result gets a better job or promotion, isn't that a successful outcome for that student?

Not the same mission

The methodology of the Rules of the Game report is seriously flawed in assuming community colleges and the state universities have the same mission. They don't.

California's community colleges were created to provide free or low-cost educational opportunities to anyone who could not avail himself/herself of the state college or university system. Our colleges do not limit admission to just the most academically well-prepared students. We also provide a "second chance" for those who did not prepare well, or at all, for college.

By law we are open to everyone, including those who try us on for size and conclude that college is not a good fit for them. Such a result doesn't mean we failed in our mission. Our mission is to be there for everyone and make higher education accessible to all who make learning their goal.

Dr. Maria Sheehan is College of the Desert’s superintendent/president.