ERIC Number: ED439760
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 2000-Apr
Pages: 9
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Faces of the Future: A Portrait of America's Community College Students. Summary Findings.
Phillippe, Kent A.; Valiga, Michael J.
This Summary of Findings examines some of the special populations that community colleges serve (including single parents, first-generation students, and students aged 40 or older), and highlights a key area of training provided by community colleges, information technology. Faces of the Future is the first national survey to include both credit and non-credit students at community colleges. This report discusses some of the preliminary findings in the areas of computer skills, student population, student growth in academic and workplace skills, and satisfaction with community colleges. Community colleges help narrow the digital divide by providing computer skills to a substantial number of students. The cost of computers for education is a major problem for 20% of students. Twenty-eight percent of the noncredit students had already attained a bachelor's degree or higher. Sixty percent of credit students responded that a major reason for taking classes at the community college was to "meet the requirements for my chosen occupation." Twenty-nine percent of the noncredit students who were unemployed and seeking work reported public assistance as a source of funds for their education. More than half of community college students are first-generation students. Eighty-three percent of credit students responded that they are satisfied or very satisfied with their community college. (VWC)
Descriptors: Community Colleges, Computer Uses in Education, Educational Technology, First Generation College Students, Information Technology, Skill Development, Student Characteristics, Student Educational Objectives, Student Needs, Student Reaction, Student Surveys, Two Year College Students, Two Year Colleges
American Association of Community Colleges, One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 410, Washington, DC 20036-1176. Tel: 202-728-0200; Web site: http://www.aacc.nche.edu/initiatives/faces/f index.htm.
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: American Association of Community Colleges, Washington, DC.; ACT, Inc., Iowa City, IA.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A