What are the Biggest Issues Facing Community Colleges Today? New Study has Answers

Looking for a fun way for your kids to spend their summer vacation? How about a week or two at college? Many community colleges are bringing camps and workshops to their campuses across the country, allowing future college students of all ages the chance to dabble in technology, theatre and a host of sports. The offerings vary in terms of length of time, cost and curriculum, allowing students from a wide range of interests to pursue a new hobby or hone their skills at a current discipline. This article will highlight some of the community college programs available this summer across the country.

Bringing the Arts and Physical Education to New Mexico Kids

Clovis Community College has plenty to offer kids on break this summer at their CCC Kid's College. The school provides a range of classes in their summer outreach program, including science, arts and crafts and physical education. Students can create their own volcano while learning about the different rock that is created during an eruption. They can build bird houses to decorate their backyards. They can develop skills in tennis, bowling and volleyball. CCC offers some of the best – and most creative – courses for kids in New Mexico beginning at age five.

Kid's College Director Judith Spillane told cnjonline.com, "We wanted to offer both educational and physical educational programs. All of the classes have education and skills components, including our athletic programs."

Registration is currently underway at Clovis Community

The latest President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll is out. And some of the community colleges that made the grade are making repeat appearances on the list. These schools have shown exemplary performance in civic engagement and community service. The President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll was first established in 2006 by the Corporation for National and Community Service to recognize schools of higher education that go above and beyond their basic educational responsibilities to serve their surrounding communities more effectively. We'll take a closer look at this prestigious honor and some of the community colleges that made the grade this year.

About the Honor Roll

Since he took office, President Obama has issued a national call to service as a major cause for his administration. The president wanted to acknowledge the schools of higher education around the country that went the extra mile to meet the needs of their communities and find solutions to common social problems. As a result, the President's Honor Roll for Community Service was created. Appointees for the annual honor roll are chosen through the Corporation for National and Community Service work in collaboration with the Department of Education, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Campus Contact and the American Council on Education.

Many factors go into the selection of colleges and universities for the honor roll. According to the website of the Corporation for National and Community Service, some of the features schools must exhibit

Incarcerated individuals are much more likely to return to prison three years after their release if they do not have access to educational opportunities beyond high school, a new study from the Institute of Higher Education Policy has found. In the report titled "Unlocking Potential: Results of a National Survey of Postsecondary Education in State Prisons," IHEP has determined that providing prisoners with access to college education benefits both the individual and society at large. The report was published this month on the IHEP website, including recommendations for policymakers regarding prisoners currently in the system.

According to IHEP, there are approximately 2.3 million people in the prison system in the United States today, costing taxpayers about $52 billion each year. Without access to any postsecondary education, seven of 10 formerly incarcerated individuals will return to prison within three years of their initial release. Recidivism costs states every year, which is why policymakers must consider instituting programs within the prison system to provide prisoners with the necessary training and education to find jobs after their release.

The Profile of a Prisoner

The IHEP study found many common characteristics of incarcerated individuals vs. the general population today, including:

• Incarcerated individuals are much more likely to come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds than the general population
• Those in prison tend to be from racial and ethnic minorities to a higher degree than the population at large
• Many in prison today were either working at low-paying jobs or not

Community colleges have traditionally been institutes of higher education, allowing anyone to attend, regardless of their academic ability or income level. Thanks to state funding, these schools were designed for both those who would struggle in four-year colleges right out of high school and those who could not afford the tuition at the local university. Community colleges were also an option for adults who needed additional training to advance in their current careers or switch over to industries with greater potential.

All of these purposes come at a cost, and until recently, community colleges – with the help of state funding – were able to pay the price. However, the recent economic slowdown, combined with a rising unemployment rate, has boosted enrollment at these schools while cutting the available money. The result has been a serious financial crunch for many community colleges across the country. In light of these recent economic difficulties, many schools are faced with challenging decisions over how best to serve their student population on a fraction of the money to which they are accustomed. This video provides an update on the financial situation facing community colleges in Texas.

Lone Star State in Dire Straits

While the entire country is feeling the economic pinch at the community college level, three states appear to be grappling with their financial reality more severely than others. Texas, California,