Community colleges reply
Pasadena Star-News 3/16/07
They are a source of inexpensive post-secondary learning for anybody living in California. Students have responded by treating community colleges like an a la carte menu, picking one class now, saving another for next semester, maybe a summer class as dessert. Also, returning students load up on classes after losing a job or when the economy is bleak, and only nibble during fatter economic times. High school graduates go slowly, often taking four, five or six years to graduate because there's no economic urgency.
In short, California community colleges attract a diverse group of students with diffuse goals. That's a benefit to them but presents a challenge to the community colleges.
Rio Hondo College in Whittier, which primarily serves Whittier, Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs, El Monte and South El Monte, is an example. It has experienced enrollment and student-load ups and downs. But with the number of students increasing again (about 21,000 attend currently), the number of classes Rio Hondo students are taking is not. Too many students are taking too few classes. This keeps standing costs high but state funding - which is linked to full-time-equivalent students - stagnant. While not sounding an alarm, the college's bean counters have recognized the problem and Interim college President Manuel Baca is working on solving it. Baca wants more students to take more classes; Rio Hondo has boosted the number of freshman math and language arts classes and is moving ahead with new building projects.
First, counselors should convince students not taking full loads to bulk up and graduate sooner, rather than later. That could mean a quicker entry into a four-year university or career path.
Second, there is a disconnect between Latino-majority high schools and Rio Hondo College. Many high schoolers served by Rio Hondo don't attend, either because they think they can't afford it, have not taken advantage of available financial aid, or don't realize the community college is there as a stepping stone to a four-year university.
New Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, D-La Ca ada Flintridge, chair of the Assembly Higher Education Committee, told the community college faculty union in their publication that he wants to see more high schoolers concurrently taking classes at the local community college. "How do we make that transition from K-12 to our higher education system seamless here in California?" he asked.
Portantino is asking the right questions. And Rio Hondo is raising these issues to its community. It will take all stakeholders - the community college administration, faculty, students, Legislature, governor and high schools to work on getting more students into community colleges and them becoming serious about completing associate degrees/vocational programs.
Our community colleges, including Rio Hondo, must stay vibrant and responsive to all who want in. Yet, the responsibility also rests with the students to get serious about finishing their education and contributing to society. They are needed to fill jobs being vacated by retiring Baby Boomers, with community colleges playing a supporting role.