ERIC Number: ED213467
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1982-Mar-8
Pages: 28
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
It's Time to Reassess.
Van Groningen, Tom
In light of recent changes in social and cultural values and the effects these changes have had on higher education, community college leaders must take the time to reassess the mission and function of the California community colleges. Shifts away from traditional values toward an increased emphasis on personal needs and aspirations may explain in part the public's diminished support for public services, including higher education. This change in attitude requires a reevaluation of the community college mission, which until now has continually expanded, so that now community colleges provide transfer, vocational, and remedial education and community services. Recent studies have attempted to analyze how well the community colleges are fulfilling these missions. These studies provide interesting information, but generalizations derived from them may be invalid or misleading. Related to the question of mission is the question of funding for California's community colleges. Between 1972 and 1982, seven different funding policies were in effect. The frequency of these policy changes has produced several aberrations and led to differential effects on community college districts. It is time to explore alternatives that will provide greater stability in funding and to address the factors that have negatively affected legislative determination of community college funding levels, and also time to demonstrate concern with the continued quality of the community college system. (AYC)
Publication Type: Speeches/Meeting Papers; Opinion Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: California
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A