Courses in College
- Are Online Courses Better Than Traditional Classroom Courses?
- How to Take Online Community College Classes for Free
- New Survey Shows Community College Students Feel Unprepared for the Rigors of Higher Education
- Studying Ghosts: Paranormal Investigation Courses at Community College
- Why Should You Take Elective Courses at Community College?

The Prevalence of Remedial Education
An article at the Hartford Courant suggests that too many incoming freshmen are getting placed in remedial classes before they can take actual college coursework. The Courant reports that as many as 60 percent of all students entering community college must take at least one refresher course in math or English. What is even more unsettling is that only about one-quarter of these students go on to actually complete their degree program.

Online Alliance Expands Degree Choices
The Corning Leader reports that the State University of New York (SUNY) has announced an alliance of online learning that will provide 34 different associate degree programs through six different state community colleges. The new alliance, dubbed the Online Western New York Learning Alliance (OWL), includes Corning, Erie, Finger Lakes, Genesee, Jamestown, and Monroe Community Colleges.

Types of Online Education
Online education does not fit a single mold; there are many different models of distance learning utilized by community colleges today. Some of the various type of online education, listed at Campus Explore, include:
Synchronous Learning
Synchronous learning involves set times for class work, whether through physical classrooms, online chat rooms or video conferencing. Students have less flexibility with this type of learning environment, but they do have more opportunity for interaction with professors and other students. This type of learning may also be referred to as “fixed-time” courses, where students

About the Placement Tests
Many community colleges require incoming students to take placement exams before they can register for courses. The purpose of the examinations is to identify students who might need remedial help to ensure their success in college-level courses. The most common tests used by schools today are the ACT’s Compass or the College Board’s Accuplacer. Tests are designed to show academic deficiencies so students can be brought up to par before they are introduced to the rigors of a college curriculum.
