Community Colleges

During our class discussion on Wednesday, we discussed why community colleges began. There were many social forces that drove the creation of these schools, including education as a social elevator. Because more students were graduating from high school and the colleges and universities could not take on the influx of these students so there was a need for more educational institutions.  Also, everyone could not leave home to go to school so as the highway system developed, more community colleges were established.  Also, community colleges were to be the institutions for vocational training.

We discussed an article about a community college that added a cosmetology associate's degree to their curriculum. This is very interesting to me because I hope to work at a community college. When I worked at a community college in 2008, I learned that many students wanted vocational training, but felt the market demanded further education and certification.  This program combined both vocational training and an associate's degree.  As the economy and market continue to change, a college education is a necessity to maintain middle class status. Hopefully, more colleges will begin to realize the direction the market is headed and further their vocational training.