Greater Expectations and New Investments:
Community Colleges and America’s Promise
By: Dwight Smith, Ed.D.
President Obama’s call for America to reclaim its place as having the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020 presents several challenges and requires wit, will, and wallet by community colleges to meet this goal of increasing the number of students receiving a degree by approximately 150,000 annually. The wit will require community colleges to embrace a “culture of completion” for our students and believe that students have the “right to succeed.” Wit will be revealed in knowing our students, their hopes and aspirations, and engaging faculty in the use of high-impact practices throughout the college.
Will is determined by community colleges’ success in the political arena to advance the American Graduation Initiative. With approximately six million students enrolled in community colleges, this sector of higher education provides the largest source of potential graduates to propel the United States to reclaim its position as world leader in educated citizens. The response to the American Graduation Initiative has not been embraced enthusiastically by all sectors of higher education for a variety of reasons. Community colleges will need to exert their political will with the help of their students, faculty, administrators, and the communities they serve if they are to realize the role that is called for in the American Graduation Initiative.
The wallet is a challenge to both the wit and the will. Funding for each full-time student at a community college is the lowest of any sector of higher education, and with structural budget deficits projected in all states, faculty, staff, and administrators will be tested to meet the demands of students and communities. This funding disparity and the financial aid rules that drain available funding for students with developmental education needs serve as rallying points for community colleges to use their wit and will to increase the size of their wallet.
The first LEAP Principle of Excellence calls for higher education to “Aim High and Make Excellence Inclusive.” Community colleges—through their wit, will, and wallet—will help higher education live this principle.
Dwight Smith is the vice president of academic affairs at the County College of Morris.
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