Community colleges have stepped up to meet workforce opportunities in areas such as nursing and technology by offering four-year degrees.
“Implementing baccalaureate degrees at community colleges is, at its heart, about preserving access to higher education for all students,” says Dr. Walter G. Bumphus, president and CEO of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC).
“Community colleges are a gateway to the middle class for many students,” he continues. “Providing baccalaureate degrees in areas where access to them is limited or nonexistent sends a critical message about the importance of providing higher educational opportunities to all Americans.”
Community colleges are institutions that offer two-year associate degrees. For some individuals, that is their only experience with higher education. Other students go on to four-year colleges or universities to pursue a bachelor’s degree. The vast majority of community college students attend institutions located near where they reside.
Workforce specific
In some areas, students may have a desire to pursue a four-year degree, but either there isn’t a baccalaureate-granting institution within a reasonable distance or there isn’t one that offers the specific program they wish to pursue.
An example given for the latter is automotive technology. In recent years, an increasing number of community colleges have stepped in to fill that void by developing four-year baccalaureate programs.
