Recently, President Obama has been talking about the importance of community colleges to retrain unemployed works for new careers. His goal is for an additional 5 million community college graduates by 2020 and he’s willing to fund it with a $12 billion over the next 10 years. Why has the president focused on community colleges?
Community Colleges are cost effective. An article from The Christian Science Monitor focuses on this, with figures showing how much is saved in living expenses compared to universities. Also, community colleges are increasingly popular for mid-career workers. FKCC was featured in this article, here’s an excerpt:
These colleges have always been market-driven, defined by their location and the demands of their particular communities. Florida Keys Community College, for example, reflects its unique geography. With the slogan, “Island Living, Island Learning,” FKCC has a national reputation in marine engineering and diving technology. Its enrollment has grown over 10 percent during the past year, with an expected 2,000 students this fall.
“Our small classes of 11 to 12 students, the emphasis on teaching, and our lower costs make us an attractive alternative to a large university,” says Jill Landesberg-Boyle president of FKCC. “I am proud that our students who transfer to four-year universities have higher GPAs than the students who started at that university.”
