The Foreign Service Journal, December 2009

C OMMUNITY C OLLEGES — T IME TO T AKE A NOTHER L OOK ? T HE NATION ’ S COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM HAS BECOME THE LAUNCHING PAD TO PROFESSIONAL CAREERS AND ADVANCED EDUCATION FOR MORE THAN HALF OF ALL COLLEGE STUDENTS . B Y R EBECCA G RAPPO ommunity colleges constitute the backbone of higher education oppor- tunities for more than half of all col- lege students (11.7 million) enrolled in the United States every year. Known as the great democratizer in education, community colleges have open enrollment policies promis- ing that anyone with a high school diploma or general edu- cation degree can be a student. Opportunities abound for all kinds of students, from high school graduates hoping to transfer to a four-year institution to adults in the work force, displaced workers or those juggling work and family. And while many people think of community colleges as a place for part-time, non-traditional students, about 38 percent attend full-time. Community colleges are also popular because of cost. According to the College Board, the average annual tui- tion cost of a private four-year institution is now $25,143; for a public four-year institution it is $6,585; but for resident students at a community college it is less than $4,000. As any parent who has recently paid tuition bills knows, the fees can be even higher than the averages cited here. But what else draws students to these institutions? What kinds of programs, certificates and degrees are offered? Is community college a viable alternative for a high-achieving student who wants to pursue a four-year degree? What other services and opportunities are offered? Types of Certificates and Degrees Community colleges offer various certificate programs that range from entry-level to more advanced, covering a huge range of skills and fields. The best way to find a listing of what is offered is to go to the Web site of a specific com- munity college and look for certificates and degrees. Associate in Applied Science degrees can be vocational, occupational or technical. Students who choose this path can graduate in two years with professional skills that garner a reasonable wage in a high-demand area such as informa- tion technology, nursing or allied-health fields, among oth- ers. Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degrees typi- cally take between 60 and 63 credit hours to complete. The former has a greater emphasis on humanities and social sci- ences, while the latter focuses on math and science. Many A.A. and A.S. students complete these degree programs and then transfer on to a four-year university. Many community colleges also offer opportunities to high school students who are looking for additional academ- ic challenge. Most often known as dual enrollment, this pro- D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 9 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 65 S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT Rebecca (Becky) Grappo, an educational consultant and FS spouse, raised three children and sent them all to college while in the Foreign Service. Founder of RNG International Edu- cational Consultants, LLC, she is a certified educational plan- ner specializing in boarding schools and college planning, and a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association and the National Association of College Admis- sions Counselors. A former education and youth officer in the Family Liaison Office at the Department of State, she is post- ed in Dubai while her husband is on assignment in Iraq. C