Student Issues / Attending College

Academics, extracurricular activities, housing and more: be savvy about all facets of attending community college. Get tips on making the Dean's list. Find ways to benefit from community college outside the classroom. Analyze the latest data on graduation and employment rates. Plus news from journals, blogs and more.

View the most popular articles in Student Issues / Attending College:

15 Ways to Increase Your Odds of Success at Community College

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15 Ways to Increase Your Odds of Success at Community College
Take advantage of this in-depth guide to help you achieve success at community college through making the right financial aid decisions, college readiness assessments, and class taking strategies.

Community college has come a long way in recent years, especially with the focus these schools are getting from the current administration. President Obama has labeled these institutions as the hope for American’s economic future and the way this country will remain competitive in a global marketplace. To that end, President Obama has announced a lofty goal of adding 5 million more community college graduates by 2020. He also hosted the first community college summit at the White House last year, which served as the starting point for finding new ways to support these institutions so they are able to meet this ambitious goal.

In this struggling economy, community colleges have become the go-to place for displaced workers looking for training in a new field and high school graduates who are unable to afford the skyrocketing tuition rates at four-year institutions. However, the path from enrollment to graduation is not always an easy one. We have tips to help incoming students get the most from their community college experience, so they can use it as an effective starting point for a successful and lucrative career.

Are You Ready?

The first step toward community college success is proper preparation before the enrollment process even takes place. Whether you are coming to college right out of high school, or have been out of the world of academia for some time, you can determine your college readiness with a relatively simple process.

First, find a readiness

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Mentoring at Community College: Helping Students Succeed

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Mentoring at Community College: Helping Students Succeed
Learn about mentoring programs at community colleges around the country and the benefits they offer to students.

Community college can be a challenging prospect for new students, whether they are coming right out of high school or after being in the workforce for a number of years. To make the transition smoother, a number of community colleges across the country have established mentoring programs connecting new students with those who already know the ropes. In the past several academic years, more of these programs have been introduced, thanks to grant money and willing mentor participants. We’ll take a look at why mentoring can be a valuable tool in the community college environment and how some schools are using the concept for the benefit of new students.

What is Mentoring?

Mentoring programs work by pairing newcomers with older, more experienced students. Mentors may provide a number of valuable functions, including helping new students with their schedules, providing campus tours and offering information about resources and facilities available on campus. In some cases, mentors might also be faculty members dedicated to helping new students succeed by easing them through the transition between high school or the workforce and a college environment. These programs can be a powerful tool to student success when they are correctly implemented.

For students that need special help when they get to community college, a mentor program can truly be a lifesaver. The mentors that work in these organizations may point new students to the resources and additional assistance they need, whether it is academic, financial or of another

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State Spending Impacting Graduation Rates at Community Colleges across the Country

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State Spending Impacting Graduation Rates at Community Colleges across the Country
The dire state of current budgets is impacting graduation rates, which are diminishing with each disappearing dollar. Learn about how the current budget crisis is impacting students and their degrees, as well as potential solutions.

A college education is an important component to a lucrative and successful career today, whether the degree is earned at a community college or four-year university. That fact is driving the efforts of the current administration to raise the completion rates at community colleges across the country within the next decade. President Obama has launched an initiative to graduate five million new students from community colleges by 2020. The president believes this lofty goal will help the United States establish itself in the top spot for college graduates and beef up the country’s economic outlook at the same time.

This video from Case-Western Reserve University examines the impact of state budget cuts in Ohio.

However, many states have found that the current economic crunch and exceedingly high unemployment rate are forcing them to make difficult decisions when balancing their budgets. Some of those decisions involve cutting funding to institutions of higher education –just when schools need money the most. When less money is available, students tend to suffer from fewer services and crowded classes that make it difficult to graduate on time. Less funding also means fewer options in financial aid and higher tuition rates, which often price many low-income students right out of the community college market.

New Report Shows Shrinking Budgets Impacting Completion Rates

A new report from the National Center for Public Policy and Higher

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Living on Campus: Student Housing Coming to a Community College Near You

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Living on Campus: Student Housing Coming to a Community College Near You
Just a few short years ago, community college dormitories were a rarity. Today, more and more community colleges are building student housing, with an array of benefits for students. Learn about who is jumping onto the dorm bandwagon.

Community colleges have historically provided a much different environment than the traditional four-year university. One of the biggest differences between the two is that students at community colleges do not tend to live in a single community on or near the college campus. However, many community colleges across the country are tuning in to the advantages on-campus housing can provide to students of all ages. This article will explore the new trend of living on a community college campus and some of the schools around the country that are adopting this model for a richer, more community-oriented academic environment.

Benefits of Living On Campus

Community colleges are now realizing some of the benefits of living on campus that four-year colleges have known for generations, including:

  • Better proximity to college resources like the library and recreation center
  • Exposure to international lifestyles that comes from living near fellow students from around the globe
  • The ability to fully immerse oneself in the college experience by remaining in the environment after classes are finished for the day
  • Ease of meeting other students and building relationships with those in a similar season of life
  • Apartments or dormitories that are often fully furnished and affordable, providing an economic housing option to cash-strapped students

Today, many community college students are beginning to enjoy these benefits as their school campuses are adding housing to the mix. We will take a look at some of the specific colleges that allow students to live on campus or are adding housing options

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Community College Case Studies: 3 Lessons on Improving Learning

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Community College Case Studies: 3 Lessons on Improving Learning
As community colleges continue to grow in popularity, some campuses are experimenting with how they can improve learning. Be inspired by three case studies that follow the successes of community colleges in their quest to take learning to a new level.

The significant role community colleges will play in the country's economy has been underscored by the White House over the past few months, with the first annual community college summit taking place in Washington this fall. However, for community colleges to become the relevant players that President Obama wants them to be, the current dismal graduation rates at community colleges across the country will need to increase. To that end, the "Achieving the Dream" initiative has been implemented to recognize community colleges performing above national standards and use those tools to elevate other colleges to a higher level.

Achieving the Dream is committed to assisting community colleges to serve their students better so more students can realize academic and professional success. Colleges participating in the movement agree to carefully analyze their current procedures and student outcomes and develop and implement new strategies to improve student outcomes overall.

In addition, participating colleges agree to monitor their progress and report their findings to Achieving the Dream so that other colleges can benefit from their knowledge and experience. This year, the organization learned three important lessons on improving learning from two participating community colleges in their pool.

This video offers suggestions for improving student success.

Reducing Achievement Gaps = Increased Student Retention

Valencia Community College in Florida offered several programs for under-prepared students coming to the campus for the first time –

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Student Issues / Attending College

COMMUNITY COLLEGE HOUSING
The number of community colleges offering on-campus housing is on the rise. Learn more about campus living options, compare the pros and cons of dorm life, and get help deciding what housing is best for you.
The Pros and Cons of On-Campus Housing for Community College
The Pros and Cons of On-Campus Housing for Community College
Dormitories: Positive or Negative for Community Colleges?
Dormitories: Positive or Negative for Community Colleges?
Campus Living Options for Community College Students
Campus Living Options for Community College Students
IMPROVING LEARNING
Get helpful tips and expert advice on boosting your GPA. This section will provide valuable tips on studying, mentor programs and how to avoid academic probation. Examine the latest trends in student motivation techniques, take a good look at online learning, and find resources to guide you on the path to success.
Writing Assistance for Community College Students
Writing Assistance for Community College Students
The Top 10 Tips for Incoming Community College Students
The Top 10 Tips for Incoming Community College Students
Should You Declare Academic Bankruptcy?
Should You Declare Academic Bankruptcy?
IMPROVING YOUR JOB SEARCH
Whether you have just enrolled in community college or you’re ready to graduate and enter the job market, our articles can help improve your opportunities of landing the perfect job. Internships and apprenticeships offer lots of benefits, find out how participation in these programs can move your resume to the top of the pile. Analyze employment data for community college graduates and determine who is getting hired. Get valuable tips on polishing your candidacy and making the most of job fairs.
Getting into Law School with a Community College Degree
Getting into Law School with a Community College Degree
Do You Need to Pick a Major Before Starting Community College?
Do You Need to Pick a Major Before Starting Community College?
Benefits of Internships for Community College Students
Benefits of Internships for Community College Students
CLASS SCHEDULES
- Do you need child care? Are you employed full-time? Community colleges offer a variety of scheduling options, allowing most students to easily integrate continued education into an already busy schedule. From weekend classes to courses at midnight, we cover the gamut of flexible class schedules at community college.
The Pros and Cons of Dual Enrollment
The Pros and Cons of Dual Enrollment
How Community Colleges Plan to Spend Summer Vacation
How Community Colleges Plan to Spend Summer Vacation
Graduate from Community College Earlier  By Paying More
Graduate from Community College Earlier By Paying More