Careers: Glass Blowing

When budgets are slashed, spending is cut along the falling numbers, which is precisely what many community colleges face during today's economic crunch. Unfortunately, programs are often the victims of penny-pinching, with colleges slashing programs in everything from culinary arts to massage therapy. We will take a look at a few of the community colleges across the country that are facing big challenges in balancing their budgets – and who the real losers will be in the long run.

Cutting Programs at St. Charles

St. Charles Community College in Missouri is just one of the schools in this state that is scrutinizing programs to determine which ones can be cut without hurting student opportunities in popular fields. According to a recent Suburban Journals report, SCC plans to delete five associate degree programs from their course catalog next year: massage therapy, environmental science, electronics engineering technology, industrial maintenance technology, and medical transcription. The programs were listed in a review of public and community college academic programs released by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon.

College officials have stated that the programs slated for the ax have low enrollment numbers, and none have any students currently going through the programs. Michael Banks, SCC vice president of academics and student affairs, told SJ, "These five are not going to impact us and will be gone from the books by June 30." According to school records, none of these programs have graduated students in the last three years. They were

As the immigration debate rages on, a new aspect of the controversy has come to the forefront: should illegal immigrants qualify for in-state tuition at state colleges? A federal law on the books prohibits the practice, but many states have overridden that law to allow those who have grown up in their public schools to move on to higher education after graduation. Others oppose the idea of allowing people who are in the country illegally – and as such, are disqualified from becoming a member of the workforce – to reap benefits not available to legal residents of the country. We will take a look at both sides of the debate, and how some states are deciding to handle the issue of illegal immigration in their own education systems.

What the Law Says

A federal law passed in 1996 prohibits illegal immigrants from paying in-state tuition at public institutions of higher education, according to an article at FinAid. The law reads:

"An alien who is not lawfully present in the United States shall not be eligible on the basis of residence within a state for any postsecondary education benefit unless a citizen or national of the United States is eligible for such a benefit (in no less an amount, duration and scope) without regard to whether the citizen or national is such a resident."

Since the federal law was passed, several states have passed state laws allowing in-state tuition to illegal immigrants residing in

Most students heading to college are consumed with the adjustment to dorm life, the sometimes complex maze of the registration process and the cheapest place to purchase textbooks and supplies. However, recent events on campuses across the country, particularly the tragic massacre that occurred at Virginia Technical College just a few short years ago, have them considering the safety of their schools as well. In response to those concerns, some colleges are thinking about arming the security guards that currently patrol the campus. Others may allow students and faculty to carry their own firearms as a means of self-defense in the event of an attack. We will take a look at both issues, and why community colleges are taking such measures to protect their students and staff.

Armed Officers may be Coming to Illinois College

Illinois Valley Community College is just one of the community colleges across the country considering the option of arming security guards on campus. IVCC president Jerry Corcoran told the News Tribune that the upcoming retirement of current Safety Services Director Ken Sangston prompted the idea. Corcoran said, "We're seeing a trend among community colleges across the state where they have armed security. IVCC is like a small city…so if there's an opportunity to raise the bar for security we should explore it."

IVCC currently employs four full-time and six part-time security guards. At this time, all of them are unarmed. If they decide to arm some of their staff, the

Few would argue that the budgets of most community colleges across the country are pinched to the limit today. The answer to overcrowded classrooms, long waitlists, and decrepit buildings seems obvious: pump more money into the system and then stand back to watch the benefits unfold. However, in a widely publicized construction scandal, the Los Angeles Community College District wasted millions of taxpayer dollars that were meant to improve campuses through poor planning, questionable contract awards, and construction blunders.

While many community colleges continue to face funding challenges, concerns about accountability and oversight remain relevant in 2026 as institutions across the country invest in new facilities and campus improvements. Students exploring higher education options may also want to consider the hidden benefits of starting at a community college.

How it Happened in L.A.

With billions raised through a series of bond measures that eventually totaled nearly $11 billion, the district was clearly poised to bring the community colleges of Los Angeles into the 21st century. According to the Los Angeles Times, the money was supposed to be spent to ease overcrowding in classrooms, improve seismic protections, and add new technology to the learning experience.

It sounded great to Los Angeles voters, which is why they agreed to the proposed bond issues that raised property taxes for decades. It sounded great to the many students who were ready to further their education and professional careers through coursework at community colleges throughout the