6 New Features for Community College Students

Before the dust even settles on problems faced by City College of San Francisco, other California community colleges may be facing similar challenges. The largest community college in the state was recently notified it would lose its accreditation by next summer. Now, other schools in the state are dealing with warnings, sanctions, and possible loss of accreditation as well. What does the future hold for community colleges in the Golden State?

Accreditation Reviews Hit the State

The Accrediting Commission for Junior and Community Colleges (ACJCC) has been busy in recent months, reviewing California schools and making recommendations for follow-up action as needed. The comprehensive process resulted in the termination of accreditation for City College of San Francisco, the largest community college in the state with a student population of 85,000. In addition, other schools have been issued warnings and one was placed on probation after the review was completed.

The news is not all bad in California, however. Some community colleges in the state also had warnings upgraded to lighter sanctions or had the warnings removed altogether. While the list of schools recently reviewed is a long one, we’ll take a look at a few of the highlights of the report that shed light on the state of the California Community College System overall.

Community Colleges Working Through Sanctions

Two community colleges in the state will begin the process of working through their list of recommendations to get their sanctions removed by next summer. The

Few people may be pulling out the Christmas lights or playing the carols just yet, but at community colleges across the country, the season of giving has already begun. Whether schools are helping those in need in their communities or receiving assistance from generous donors, 'tis the season for many of these schools. Check out how some community colleges are celebrating the giving and receiving season a little early this year.

Kauai Community College Reaches Out to Vets

This Hawaiian community college is making a point to provide opportunities to veterans on the Islands, particularly vets interested in pursuing higher education. The Garden Island reports that faculty from the school recently met with area vets to brainstorm ways for the school to reach out more effectively to this population. According to the article, the school had 41 vets enrolled during the past spring semester and would like to see that number increase.

"Kauai Community College is committed to serving the veterans by assisting them in enrolling in higher education, career counseling, succeeding in college, and finding a job," Earl Nishiguchi, vice chancellor for student affairs, told The Garden Island.

The meeting consisted of college employees listening to concerns raised by veterans and other military personnel in attendance. The hope is that this meeting will spark a partnership between the college and the army community, leading to increased educational and career success for vets who call the Islands home.

St. Louis Community College Cleans Up the Neighborhood

Student loan debt statistics continue to shock. Just two years ago, America's average student loan debt was estimated at about $27,000. A recent study from Fidelity Investments reveals that 70 percent of students who graduated college in 2013 borrowed money from various federal, state, and private sources to help pay for their education. They left school with an average debt of $35,200, a 35 percent increase.

The Fidelity study also found that 50 percent of those 2013 graduates who had taken out student loans expressed surprise by how much debt they had accumulated. That's another shocking statistic demonstrating how difficult it is for many college-age students to visualize their lives when the borrowing phase of their student loans is over and the dreaded repayment phase begins. And that's not a good place to be.

The bottom line is that student loans are not optional arrangements between you and your lenders. They have to be repaid. They cannot be ignored or put off, and federal law stipulates that they cannot even be discharged via bankruptcy. If you default on your student loans, you can have your tax refunds intercepted, a portion of your wages garnished, judgments or lawsuits issued against you, or collection fees added to your loan balances – not to mention harassing calls and tactics from aggressive creditors.

That's why it's critical that if you are a student loan borrower, you learn how to manage your loans and create a budget to make

Careers: Brewing and Wine Making

One of the more popular and less conventional fields of study at community colleges today is a degree in beer crafting or winemaking.

• While these programs may not seem like paths to lucrative professions on the surface, the truth is that the wine and beer industry is a booming one in the U.S. and beyond.
• Check out these community colleges that offer training in a long-standing craft that continues to be highly sought after today.

The Booming Business of Beer Crafting

According to a report at Blue Ridge Now, craft beer is a U.S. industry that is growing by leaps and bounds.

• The article cites numbers from the Brewers Association that show the $26.8 billion industry grew to 27 percent of the $100 billion beer market in 2021.
• The total number of craft breweries in 2021 is 9,118.

“I think it’s a great idea for a school to start this kind of program,” Andy Cubbin, co-owner and head brewer at Southern Appalachian Brewery, told Blue Ridge Now. “I think [the craft beer industry] is growing about 15 or 16 percent a year.”

The Community College Times reported earlier this year that providing a degree program in beer crafting gives community colleges another avenue to do what they do best, namely, offer training for employment opportunities right in their neighborhoods.

• The article uses Rockingham Community College in