Colleges must endeavor to keep students in class

Modesto Bee 1/16/07

Improving residents' access to college is a key part of raising the overall education level in the valley. That's one of the reasons why it's so important to have a valley campus of the University of California.

Now the Yosemite Community College District proposes to reach out to prospective students with plans for satellite campuses of Modesto Junior and Columbia colleges. The planned education centers would be in Patterson, Turlock, Oakdale and Angels Camp.

Such outreach makes sense, given the limited public transit available and the growing populations in these areas. Even with the increasing popularity of distance learning — via Internet or television — there always will be value in students sitting down face to face with their professors and classmates.

Patterson's center is the furthest along in the planning stage; the others could take five or 10 years or longer to become reality.

Satellite centers represent a form of recruitment — trying to bring in more students. Community colleges are reimbursed by the state based on enrollment, so there is a natural incentive to get more students signed up for classes.

There should be as much emphasis on keeping students in class — helping them finish their courses and move along to fulfilling their educational goals, whether academic, vocational or enrichment.

A recent study showed that less than a quarter of the Northern San Joaquin Valley students who start community colleges end up with an associate degree. Some professors say they are alarmed by the number of students who repeatedly drop their classes in the middle of a semester. The reasons are varied, ranging from family and job conflicts to an inability to do the work.

Remedial education has become a big part of the community college agenda. A Jan. 2 story by higher education reporter Michelle Hatfield examined the large percentage of students who needed remedial classes, at community colleges and at state universities. Such courses are costly to the students and to the institutions offering them.

Improving physical access to college, through satellite campuses and other means, is important, but is only one factor in improving the valley's education levels.