The American Community College
During the 20th century, the community college became a major player on the stage of higher education. A number of factors influenced this trend: as America faced global competition there was new demand for a skilled workforce; local school systems looked for ways to better serve their communities; and an increasing number of high school graduates desired to attend college but wanted to remain close to home and to avoid the financial burden incurred by attending a distant university. The results were astounding; since the opening of Joliet Junior College (Illinois) in 1901, over 100 million people have been served by community colleges in America.
Community College Articles
Read the following web entry for a brief introduction to community colleges.
About Community College (2014). Retrieved 09/08/2014. http://www.aacc.nche.edu/AboutCC/Pages/default.aspx
Read the following web entry which discusses a century of progress in the community college sector.
Community Colleges: Past to Present (2014). Retrieved 09/08/2014. http://www.aacc.nche.edu/AboutCC/history/Pages/pasttopresent.aspx
Activity
Reflect on the following statement from the article you just read.
"No other segment of higher education is more responsive to its community and workforce needs than the community college."