September 17, 2002
RED BANK, N.J. (AP) — When Jennifer Buono decided where to enroll after high school, she chose little-known Brookdale Community College in central New Jersey over Rutgers University.
The bottom line, Buono said, was the bottom line.
"Brookdale is cheaper and you're getting the same education for less," said the 18-year-old education major. "And when I get out of school, I won't have all those student loans to pay off."
Across the country, many students have made similar decisions this semester. Though official figures aren't available, community college administrators say enrollment is way up, a product of the sour economy and rising tuition rates at four-year schools, including state universities such as Rutgers.
Norma Kent, a spokeswoman for the American Association of Community Colleges, said many schools are reporting percentage increases in the double digits for enrollment. This comes at a time when community college costs also are creeping up and education budgets nearly everywhere are being squeezed by declining state revenues.
Barbara Grano, of Lakeland Community College outside Cleveland, said that with a 10% increase in students in the past year, classroom capacity is being pushed beyond its limits. Grano recently visited an algebra class where 34 students were squeezed in a room intended to hold 30 maximum.
"Students are begging their way into classes," Grano said. "They're saying, 'Please, let me take this class. I have to get in.'"
Such overcrowding troubles Kent. "We are all about access," she said, "And the idea that we might have to turn people away is appalling."
Recessions tend to inflate college enrollment. But this time is different because the increases are primarily at the community college level, said Barmak Nassirian, a policy analyst with the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.
With many large, public universities hiking tuition, Nassirian said it is not surprising that students are turning to commuter schools.
"For most families, the economic downturn doesn't manifest itself in depleted portfolios but instead forces them to make different choices," Nassirian said. "And for those people, community colleges present a safety net."
Renee Brock, a freshman at Brookdale Community College, says community colleges are even more attractive for students who must pay their own tuition.
"I would say that a lot of people whose parents are paying are going to the four-year colleges," she said. "But for those who are paying their own way, this is a good place to go."
In cities and towns hard-hit by the economic downturn, community colleges also have become a magnet for displaced workers.
On the six campuses of the Moberly Area Community College in northeast Missouri — a region with several plant closings — many of the 2,600 students are repositioning themselves for recession-proof jobs.
The typical Moberly student is female, 29 years old and shows up for computer-oriented classes that meet after 5 p.m. Moberly has seen credit-hour registration increase by 7% this semester.
"We work with companies to retrain them and bring them to different skill levels. A lot of these folks, with limited skills, need to work on their math and developmental skills to get back in the work force," said Ben Taylor, the dean of technical and career programs at Moberly.
Community colleges also are increasingly attractive because they are developing ways students can stay beyond the two years of coursework it takes to receive an associate's degree.
Brookdale has an operating agreement with several colleges and universities that allows students enrolled in a "communiversity" program to use the Internet and other means to get a bachelor's degree without transferring.
Brookdale sophomore Graling High is considering the communiversity, but would prefer to be among the 72% of Brookdale graduates each year who move to a four-year campus. He has set his sights on either Rutgers or Morehouse College in Atlanta.
High arrived at Brookdale uncertain if he wanted to pursue his original major, business administration, for a full four years. Now in his second year at the community college, he's sure of his choice.
"This place beats out a four-year school if you don't know what you want to do," he said. "If I'd gone to Rutgers, I might have wasted $20,000 trying to find out."
September 18, 2002
Madisonville Messenger
Students gain business experience
Seventh-graders became entrepreneurs Tuesday, opening their own laser tag businesses,
arcades and teen clubs.
“We’ve designed a teen club because there are no hangouts in Madisonville for teens,” said Eben Pendergraff, a student at James Madison Middle School. “It’s got a restaurant in it and some nights there are dances and some nights there is laser tag.”
Pendergraff was among the students participating in the Get Up and Go activity at Madisonville Community College, which serves as the kickoff for School-to-Work’s REAL program.
REAL - or Rural Entrepreneurship through Action Learning - is a curriculum taught in the Hopkins County Schools.
“They will learn business terminology and entrepreneurial concepts,” said Kitty Davis, School-to-Work coordinator. “There are some math-related activities, some social studies activities, some language arts. It’s kind of infused throughout the curriculum during the year.”
For Get Up and Go, students draw candy bars - such as Reese’s, Pay Day or Kit Kat - to be randomly assigned to teams. Each team then comes up with an idea for a business.
“They perform a community analysis, make a business plan and present it to the bank for approval for a loan,” said Felecia Johnson, an MCC business technology instructor who leads the Get Up and Go activity. “It ends with them creating advertisements, radio and TV commercials, a slogan, signs and a business card.”
The groups end the day by making business presentations.
“I feel like they develop an appreciation for just what is involved in starting their own business,” Johnson said. “Hopefully, we’re encouraging creativity in areas they may not have explored before.”
About 550 students take part each year.
James Madison students are participating this week. South Hopkins Middle and West Hopkins Accelerated School students have already participated, and Browning Springs students are scheduled for next week.
This is the fourth year for the program.
Other businesses started by JMMS students include a variety store for teens, sporting goods store, electronics store and a restaurant called Beach BBQ.
“The theme is the beach, including sand on the floor,” Johnson said.
One group’s business, Lights of the Next Dimension, featured a laser tag show, arcade and party room, according to student Roger Guined.
He’s learned “to work with a team,” he said. “This is basically my weak point, working with teams and businesses.”
Rhonda Skinner, a seventh-grade teacher at James Madison, praised the program.
“I think it is such a great school-to-community connection,” she said. “I think it allows them to apply real world math in an economic unit - and they don’t even realize they’re doing it.”