Courses in College

Looking for a way to get a college education at little or no cost? So is the current administration. Last year, President Obama created a plan for community colleges that included a $500 million budget to create free online courses that could be tailored to the specific needs of students. According to Inside Higher Ed, the proposal was part of a larger plan to beef up community college services and access, preparing more Americans for practical job opportunities in the current workforce.

Free online community college courses can be a great option for a wide range of people, including:

1. High school students looking to get a head start on their college education or earn college credits while still in high school.

2. College students who want to supplement their coursework or fulfill general education requirements.

3. Working professionals who want to learn new skills or update their knowledge in their field.

4. Individuals who are interested in exploring new subjects or hobbies.

5. Adults who did not complete a college degree and are looking to improve their job prospects or pursue a new career.

6. People who may not have the time or resources to attend traditional college classes.

7. Individuals who live in areas without easy access to a community college or who have mobility or transportation issues.

Overall, free online community college courses can be a great resource for anyone looking to continue their education and improve their skills and knowledge.

Source: ChatGPT

Plan Specifics

In addition to helping high schools develop a low-cost curriculum, the original proposal

While Goldman Sachs has found itself in plenty of hot investigative water over the years, the investment bank has also contributed significantly to the development of small businesses via community colleges. Goldman Sachs launched 10,000 Small Businesses, an initiative geared toward the creation and growth of small businesses across the country.

An Associated Press report published on Diverse Issues in Higher Education stated that Goldman Sachs teamed up with billionaire Warren Buffett to support small business owners in a variety of ways. The advisory council for the 10,000 Small Businesses initiative was co-chaired by Buffett, Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein and Harvard Business School Professor Michael Porter.

Overcoming Obstacles

According to the Goldman Sachs website, Goldman Sachs partnered with Warren Buffett, the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City and community college associations to provide for three factors that have been identified as primary barriers to the growth of small business in the United States:

• Access to Financial Capital, Goldman Sachs has invested in lending and support through Community Development Financial Institutions to increase the amount of growth capital available to small businesses.
• Business Education, additional education and training are available to business owners through partnerships between Goldman Sachs, local community colleges, universities, and other educational institutions.
• Networking and Mentoring Support, Goldman Sachs works with local and national organizations to provide access to networking, advice and technical training for small business owners to help them grow their companies.

While all three of these factors are equally significant

A pilot program that is set to debut in eight states will allow students to graduate high school as early as the end of 10^th grade if they pass certain exams and demonstrate subject mastery. Upon “graduation,” these students will enroll in community colleges.

About the New Program

The New York Times reports that the new program will allow 10^th graders who pass “board exams” in math, English, history, and science to graduate two years early and begin taking courses at a community college if they so choose.

Those students who pass the exams but want to attend a selective four-year college or university may choose to continue taking high school courses during their 11^th and 12th-grade years. Those students who do not pass the tests in 10^th grade will have the opportunity to take the exams again at the end of their 11^th and 12th-grade years.

The Program’s Goals

Reduce the Need for Remedial Coursework in College

One of the program’s goals is to reduce the number of students who enter community colleges and four-year universities unprepared for college-level work. The New York Times reports that “more than a million college freshmen require remedial coursework each year nationwide.”

The National Center on Education and the Economy, which organizes the program, says that students requiring remedial coursework are more likely to drop out before earning a degree, as Rhode Island’s Providence Journal reports.

In the last decade, community colleges have continued to move beyond the outdated stereotype of being a “13th grade,” providing invaluable education and workforce training to millions of students nationwide. However, a persistent challenge remains: a significant share of incoming students still require remedial coursework.

With recent national data showing that between 30% and 50% of community college students enroll in at least one developmental education course, the question remains whether this long-standing issue continues to affect student outcomes and institutional resources.

The Problem: Remedial Education Remains Widespread

High numbers of students need remedial coursework

Recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics indicates that approximately 40% of students at public two-year institutions take at least one remedial course, particularly in math and English. This is a notable improvement from earlier estimates of up to 60%, but it still represents a substantial portion of the student population.

At four-year colleges, the percentage is significantly lower, typically ranging between 15% and 25%, highlighting the unique access mission of community colleges and the varied academic preparation of their students.

Remedial coursework is costly for states and students

Remedial education continues to carry financial implications. While earlier estimates placed the annual cost at $1.4 billion, more recent analyses suggest that states and students collectively spend over $2 billion annually on developmental education across all postsecondary sectors.

According to the Community College Research Center at Columbia University, the costs are not just financial. Time spent in non-credit-bearing courses can

The past decade has seen an explosion of hybrid cars powered by alternative fuels, rather than traditional gasoline. What once seemed a science fiction dream – powering cars with energy other than petroleum – is quickly becoming a reality. However, alternative fuels don’t stop with hybrid engines; experts are working on creating vehicles that can be powered by compressed natural gas, biodiesel, ethanol, and propane.

As the landscape of the American auto industry shifts to include more alternative fuel vehicles, there is an emerging market for auto technicians who are trained to service and repair these next-generation cars. For those looking for a career in the auto industry with definite growth potential, a new training program for alternative fuel technicians available at community colleges could be an excellent investment.

This video offers a brief overview of the alternative fuels training at the Santa Fe Community Colleges.

Alternative Fuels Training Centers

West Virginia University started the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC) in 1992 to address the lack of technicians who were trained to work with the then-new Alternative Fuel Vehicles. In 1995, the NAFTC added six technical training centers to the existing West Virginia University center. Since then, the program has grown to include 42 members: 41 national training centers and 1 associate training center.

The training centers are located in community colleges and other institutes of higher education from California to Maine.