Published August 06, 2009
Written by Grace Chen
Students no longer need to attend a four-year university in order to obtain a bachelor's degree. More community colleges around the country have "graduated" from issuing associate's degrees to bachelor's degrees. Community college courses cost a mere fraction of public or private university options - which means that students who earn bachelor's degrees at their community college can save tens of thousands of dollars while pursuing their educational goals.
Unfortunately, not everyone in academia is supportive of community colleges issuing bachelor's degrees. Critics are concerned that universities will experience a drop in student enrollment, which will ultimately lead to a loss of revenues. With educational leaders and community members divided on allowing community colleges to issue bachelor's degrees, the debate is becoming increasingly heated.
The Growing Fight for Four Year Degrees
Community colleges in a dozen states across the country have already gained the right to issue bachelor's degrees, and more campuses are looking for the same privileges.
For example, as News Day reveals, Michigan is fighting loudly against state restrictions that prevent community colleges from offering 4-year degrees. As Michigan's state representative John Walsh asserts, community colleges could offer improved job training opportunities for the future of Michigan's auto workers if local campuses could issue 4-year degrees. Subsequently, Walsh introduced a new bill that would permit community colleges to offer 4-year degrees in the subjects of nursing, cement technology, and culinary arts. If the bill is approved, the large number of unemployed workers in the state could have opportunities to secure bachelor's degrees accessibly and affordably.
Could Community College Bachelor's Degrees Fend Off the Recession?
Political experts assert that granting residents access to 4-year degrees at affordable community colleges can help stimulate the economy and workforce. To illustrate the dramatic difference, the full-time tuition cost for Detroit-based Oakland Community College is just over $900 per semester. In contrast, nearby Oakland University costs over $4,000 per semester! This adds up to a dramatic savings of over $6,000 annually per student.
Possibly leading the path for increased community college powers, President Obama spoke directly to Michigan residents during his July 14th visit to local Macomb Community College. According to Obama, "The nation's economic future depends on building a skilled work force." Specifically, Obama argued that the jobs needed in the future workforce will not be filled without accessible education and training (offered by community colleges). With this philosophy, granting 4-year degrees at the community college level could help build a stronger foundation for tomorrow's economy.
The Defensive Strike to Stop Community College Access
Many university leaders are harshly opposed to community schools offering 4-year degrees. In specifically examining the conflicts arising in Michigan, 15 of the state's public universities are opposed to giving community colleges rights to issuing bachelor's degrees.
According to university leaders, community colleges are attempting to over-step their boundaries and missions, which should only be offering post-high school education and vocational training. It should solely be the universities' mission to issue bachelor's degrees.
Michael Hansen, President of the Michigan Community College Association, reveals that university leaders, "See it as an invasion of their turf... (however) We're not about taking fish out of their net. We're about growing the net."
Many university leaders are concerned that community colleges are threatening their student enrollment, which would lower their tuition revenues. Adding to the threat of competition, university leaders are also afraid of losing financial support from the state. In Michigan's case, university budgets have already experienced serious cuts. If community colleges are added into the pool of 4-year schools, then leaders could face even greater budget setbacks, with the funding for bachelor's degree institutions further divided.
While the debate heats up in Michigan, many states have already granted their community colleges the ability to issue bachelor's degrees. In Florida, Indiana, Georgia, Minnesota, Hawaii, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, North Dakota, Vermont, Texas, Washington, and West Virginia, community college students enjoy the opportunity of earning a bachelor's degree right on campus. California and Arizona are expected to follow suit in the near future.
Resources:
NewsDay.com, "Community Colleges Lobby to Offer 4 Year Degrees," available at http://www.newsday.com/community-colleges-lobby-to-offer-4-year-degrees-1.1325183
The Chicago Tribune, available at http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-mi-turfwar-glance,0,1601715.story
The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/03/education/03community.html
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