2008 Woodie Awards
Students having difficulties leaving community colleges
Katherine J. White
Issue date: 2/7/07 Section: Developing Stories
- Page 1 of 1
State community college policies are adept at getting people in community colleges, but they are not good at getting them out.
That is the judgment of Colleen Moore, research specialist for the Institute for Higher Education Leadership and Policy. Moore, in collaboration with fellow researcher Nancy Shulock complied a report concerning obstacles to student success and degree completion titled "Rules of the Game: How State Policy Creates Barriers to Degree Completion and Impedes Student Success in the California Community Colleges." Moore and Shulock operate from Cal State Sacramento.
Policymakers for the state community colleges are assuming that the current focus on wide access into the community college system is more than enough, Moore said. However, getting students in the system is not sufficient, she said. Policies to get students successfully through the system and not just merely into the system need to be discussed, she said. Hopefully this report, which was submitted to all community college officials, will "initiate discussion," Moore said.
"We're not blaming colleges," Moore said. "But current policies are not allowing colleges to offer support to students." Moore hopes that officials who review this report will be "open to change." Moore believes that current policies do not allow colleges to gain enough money for services to students, nor do current policies lend colleges enough spending power or proper direction in channeling funds.
READ MORE IN THE RIP FEB. 22
That is the judgment of Colleen Moore, research specialist for the Institute for Higher Education Leadership and Policy. Moore, in collaboration with fellow researcher Nancy Shulock complied a report concerning obstacles to student success and degree completion titled "Rules of the Game: How State Policy Creates Barriers to Degree Completion and Impedes Student Success in the California Community Colleges." Moore and Shulock operate from Cal State Sacramento.
Policymakers for the state community colleges are assuming that the current focus on wide access into the community college system is more than enough, Moore said. However, getting students in the system is not sufficient, she said. Policies to get students successfully through the system and not just merely into the system need to be discussed, she said. Hopefully this report, which was submitted to all community college officials, will "initiate discussion," Moore said.
"We're not blaming colleges," Moore said. "But current policies are not allowing colleges to offer support to students." Moore hopes that officials who review this report will be "open to change." Moore believes that current policies do not allow colleges to gain enough money for services to students, nor do current policies lend colleges enough spending power or proper direction in channeling funds.
READ MORE IN THE RIP FEB. 22
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