👩🏫✨ Offering associate degrees at four-year universities could potentially impact enrollment at community colleges. We must focus on our strengths and the vital role we play in our communities. Community colleges could respond by 1) Emphasizing specialized programs and certifications that cater to local workforce needs and providing training that might not be available at universities. 2) Building stronger partnerships and transfer agreements with four-year institutions to ensure smooth transitions for students who want to continue their education beyond the associate level. 3) Providing flexible scheduling, online courses, and support services tailored to the needs of non-traditional students, minorities, working adults, and those seeking shorter-term credentials. 4) Offering comprehensive academic and career advising, tutoring, and support services to help students succeed academically and professionally. 5) Highlighting the advantages of community college education, such as smaller class sizes, more personalized attention from faculty, and lower tuition costs compared to four-year universities. 6) Collaborating with local businesses and industries to develop internship and job placement opportunities, demonstrating the value of community college education in preparing students. ✨👩🎓👨🎓👨🏽🎓🧑🏼🎓🎓✨
More universities should be offering associate degrees, Davis Jenkins told The Hechinger Report. “These are institutions that could use their prestige and dedication to high-quality teaching to really onboard students” who would otherwise not attend college, Jenkins said. “This is building a bridge into the college, using the college’s strength.”
