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Why College Students Choose Community Colleges and Challenges Experienced by Students in these Institutions

Recent years have witnessed community colleges being subjected to immense national scrutiny by stakeholders with the field of education. Limited regard for these institutions is even evidenced by the fact that the analysis of the challenges encountered by higher education is often done by focusing solely on universities and four-year colleges (Strikwerda par 1). Nonetheless, more students continue to stream community colleges than other higher institutions of learning (Strikwerda par. 1). In this paper I will argue that even though students in community colleges experience challenges such as financial barriers, early parental role, and basic math requirement, the significance of these colleges cannot be overlooked as they serve as entry points to colleges, reach a more diverse faction of learners than most universities and four-year colleges, and are essential for the attainment of higher education objective of serving or meeting the national interest.

Students in community-colleges continue to experience certain challenges that make their journey to graduation a difficult one. Bellafante mentions financial barrier as one of the challenges that community college learners face. The author states that the lack of finance hinders students from consistently attending classes, as they have to work to meet other responsibilities (Bellafante par. 7). It is also vital to note that the problem of finance also subjects community college students to the problem of homelessness (Spencer par. 12). Community college students also experience the problem of early parenting, which exposes them to long hours of commuting and inconsistent class attendance. For instance, Bellafante refers to de Jesus who had to spend longer hours of commuting as he had to take his daughter to school prior to attending LaGuardia’s campus (par. 22). The basic math requirement is also among the challenges that learners in community colleges face. This math level is higher for these students considering that it is often taken by affluent children in ninth or eighth grade. I agree with Bellafante’s argument considering that I have witnessed many community college learners miss classes or school to work so that they can cater for their learning needs such as transportation, pocket money, and accommodation. Moreover, I have seen many community college students who have kids and have to provide for them while also attending school. I have also heard many students lamenting about basic math, and arguing that it is a major impediment to their academic progress.

Even though students in community colleges experience challenges, many learners continue to enroll in these institutions owing to three benefits associated with them. First, community colleges provide a vital entry point to colleges for many young individuals that can rarely be replicated by four-year institutions. Many young Americans always find joining a university or four-year college intimidating, especially when it entails taking on loans, handling challenging courses within the first semester, and residing away from home (Strikwerda par. 3). Nevertheless, community colleges provide a solution to these challenges in that they provide learners with an opportunity to attend a college close to their homes. Besides, these institutions provide students with the options of undertaking part-time courses and switching easily to fulltime courses from part-time ones (Strikwerda par. 3). For instance, enrolling at Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) has provided me with an opportunity to pursue college education and get an Associate of Arts (AA) degree in business. Learners attending community colleges are also subjected to fewer loans than university or four-year college students, as they are still in the process of trying out college (Strikwerda par. 3). These institutions provide students with ample time to select right major prior to taking debts. In states such as California, community colleges possess food pantries that offer groceries and toiletries, as well as school clothes and supplies. The provision of showers for homeless learners by community college campuses is also a requirement of the California law (Spencer par. 18). Furthermore, some of these colleges provider free laundry services, snacks, and dinners to students (Spencer par. 18).

Second, community colleges reach a more diverse group of learners than most universities and four-year colleges. These colleges enroll an enormous number of students from various ethnic backgrounds including Hispanic and black learners, which in turn provides a suitable recruitment ground for four-year colleges that desire their student body to be a reflection of the nation (Strikwerda par. 5). Third, community colleges are essential for the realization of the goal of higher of education of meeting the national interest. College graduates are considered vital for enhancing the competitiveness of the society within an increasingly technological globe and providing professionals or experts in various fields (Strikwerda par. 6). In the absence of partnership between four-year institutions and community colleges, the nation cannot manage to produce the needed number of college graduates (Strikwerda par. 6). As such, there is a significant need to enhance the ease of transitioning or moving from community colleges to four-ear colleges so that many students can earn degrees and contribute to nation building. In relation to this, I intend to join one of the prominent four-year colleges and I believe that robust measures should be established to eliminate barriers to joining universities and four-year colleges so that community students like me can excel in acquiring degrees. Examples of such barriers are lack of financial assistance, poor advising concerning relevant courses at transfer institution, and cultural gap between the community-college learners and the universities and colleges that do not invest in welcoming them (Strikwerda par. 6).  Some of the strategies that can be implemented to address these challenges are open-campus days of visit with immediate acceptance decisions for transfer learners, financial-aid advising tailored to the needs of community-college students, and provision of specially developed “test drive courses” in four-year colleges at prices of community-college (Strikwerda par. 8).  

In conclusion, despite learners from community colleges being vulnerable to challenges related to finances, basic math requirement, and early parenting, these institutions presents several benefits to students, four-year colleges, and the nation including serving as entry points to colleges, contributing to the attainment of the higher goal of education relation to meeting national interest, and providing reach to a diverse group of learners than universities and four-year institutions. Considering the significance of community college, there is a robust need to embrace the measures discussed in this paper so that the ease of transitioning or switching from community colleges to universities or four-year institutions can be enhanced.