American Post-secondary Education Today

1. American Post-secondary Education Today Presentation by Dr. Ardith Maney Tbilisi, Georgia March 2006

2. My background • Bachelor’s study at a private college (1600 enrollment) • Doctorate earned at Columbia University • Professor of politology & public administration – Iowa State University (26,000+ enrollment) – www.iastate.edu • Joint activities with Iowa community colleges • International projects for ISU with universities, e.g., Ukraine, Georgia, Africa • Consultant for Community Colleges for International Development – www.ccid.kirkwood.edu

3. Flexibility & change • Working students welcome • Skills for life-long learning • IT integrated in all programs • Part-time and flexible class schedules • Universities & community colleges complement each others’ missions • Hometown & distance education options

4. Post-secondary education options • Leave school after age 16 without high school diploma • Get high school equivalent diploma (GED) • High school graduation (12 years) • Begin bachelor’s study while in high school • Certificate and apprentice programs (6 months, 1 year, 2 year, etc.) offered for some jobs • Associate’s degree (2 years) & transfer options for bachelor’s study (2 +2) • Bachelor’s study (approximately 4 years) • Master’s and doctor’s degrees offered by universities after bachelor’s

5. Institutions offering post-secondary study • Community and technical colleges in every state offer AA, AS & AAS degrees • Community and technical colleges also offer certificate programs • Private 2 year colleges serve specialized programs • Public & private colleges & universities offer bachelor’s studies • Students & their credits transfer from 2 to 4-year institutions through articulation agreements • Students must fulfill entrance requirements to transfer

6. How 4-year institutions work • Governing boards hire presidents & approve all degrees • Presidents (or provosts) choose deans • Deans choose department heads & approve all teacher hiring • Teachers receive permanent contracts after a (7-year) probationary period • Teachers have contracts specifying amount of teaching, research, and/or outreach • Department committees recruit staff & review staff performance via peer review • Almost all teachers in bachelor’s programs have doctorates • Colleges & some universities emphasize teaching and learning • Research-intensive universities emphasize research • Staff pay based on market conditions & merit

7. 2-year community & technical colleges • Elected or appointed boards hire presidents & approve all degrees • CC presidents choose deans • Deans choose department heads & approve teacher hiring • Teachers can receive long-term contracts • Deans review work of staff and can fire non-performers • Most teachers have masters and sometimes doctorates • Many teachers are part-time employees • Teaching and outreach to industry & community groups • Pay is based on market conditions & merit • Accreditation is by professional organizations using peer evaluations • CCs less independent from state than public universities

8. CCs are all sizes • Santa Fe CC (Florida) – 15,000+ enrolled, 2200+ get AA or AAS/AS (522) • Moraine Valley CC (Illinois) – 46,000, 2nd largest CC in IL, 123 degrees/certificates • Eastern Iowa CC – 7243 students enrolled on 3 campuses • Iowa Lakes CC – 3600 enrolled at 5 campuses for region of 75, 000 pop.

9. CCs reflect their regions’ interests & needs • Transportation logistics - Chicago • Zoo technology – Florida • Agriculture suited to that region – Iowa v. California • Viticulture + tourism + culinary arts – CA, Oregon • Performing arts & folklore/crafts – LA, rural areas like Kentucky • What about Georgian regions?

10. About staff & students • Industry experience is useful in some fields • Master’s & doctoral degrees • Many teachers work part-time • All high school graduates can enter CCs • Remedial programs offered • Students can same $$ & live at home • Most students work while going to CC

11. Some workforce & transfer programs • Iowa Lakes CC (www.iowalakes.edu) • Welding technology • Length of study: 1 year • Result: certificate for labor market • Hotel and restaurant management • Length of study: 2 years • Result: AAS degree for labor market or transfer to bachelor’s program

12. Zoo Animal Technology Program • Offered at Santa Fe Community College (www.sfcc.edu) • Length of study: 2 years • Result: AS degree • General Education requirement: • 2 courses required in communications, 1 in humanities/fine arts • 2 & a lab in math & science, 1 in social /behavioral science • 14 Professional core courses required, e.g., • Introduction to zoos and aquariums, Basic keep technology, Animal management (basic and advanced labs, Herpeculture, Aviculture, Mammal culture, Aquarium culture, Animal nutrition, Animal breeding

13. CCs’ other responsibilities… • Workforce development • CCs link with state government incubators • Re-train workers for new jobs, • Partnership with local business & industry to design programs • State & local economic development • Efforts to bring in new businesses • Support local businesses to be profitable • Use tax “breaks” • Customized training for business on-site or on campus • Community education, i.e., life-long learning • College for seniors • Folklore or local culture

14. Iowa’s community college system • State legislature (parliament) established our community college system in 1965 • Iowa Department of Education supervises • CCs’ mission - to provide world-class educational and community services to meet the needs of the people of Iowa • 15 locally-elected boards govern the colleges • Each has a main campus & 2-4 satellite campuses for courses & services are offered

15. Iowa’s Community College system Main sites for offering courses, e.g., Iowa Lakes, EICC, Kirkwood, DMACC, etc.

16. Iowa’s higher education system • State population of approximately 3 million • Education is a big expense for state budget • 3 research universities offer BS, MS, & PhD & have an economic development mission • 24 private colleges & universities offer BS & some masters degrees • “Our system of community colleges is playing a major role in building the new economy – an economy that relies on well-educated productive workers.” Gov. Tom Vilsack

17. Trends for future planning • Iowa’s population is aging (2nd oldest in US) • 85% of community college grads will remain in Iowa • America’s baby-boom generation will retire soon • Retired adults will return to the workplace and will need training • The current & future workforce will require additional training after their first jobs • A growing number of students getting bachelor’s degrees will begin with CC • Iowa needs new economic development solutions for de-populating rural areas

18. Strategic goals for CC development in Iowa (5-year plan) • Assessment & evaluation for improvement • Improved articulation with 4-year schools • Involvement of business & industry partners • Projected shortage of teachers and administrators • Entrepreneurship programs & services needed • Linkages needed with state agencies, e.g., IWD, DED • High-skill, high-wage careers, e.g., advanced manufacturing, information solutions, & life sciences

19. State government expectations for CCs • Iowa CCs expected to reflect these values • Access and opportunity, including affordability • Responsiveness to economic changes and crises • Collaborative relationships with all educational sectors, business, & government Community & civic responsibility means serving local needs • Local control & shared responsibility

20. Costs for CC Education in Iowa: a quick summary • National government makes grants & loans to students • State government provides money for higher education, e.g., some salaries, university & CC buildings, etc. • Local property taxes pay for CC expenses in some states • Students pay fees (based on # of credits) • Eastern Iowa Community College costs are typical - 1 cr. Hour = $90, 15 cr. hours = $1350 • Out-of-state & on-line costs are higher ($135/$2025/$120) • Comparison of yearly EICC costs for courses ($2880) & those for Iowa State University ($6452 for courses +$6560 for accomodation & meals) • Yearly cost for living at home and attending EICC is 22% of attending ISU!! • Which option would you recommend to someone who wants a BS?

21. Conclusions • Education is important in the “American dream” • We are proud to be a nation of immigrants • CC is the most recent version of American government programs to help with upward mobility • CC growth driven by economic development, competitiveness concerns, & democratization of higher education • Source for info on IACC, Shaping the future, 2001 (www.state.ia/educate/ccwp/cc/stf/shaping.pdf