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Community College Teaching: A Chance to Make a Difference

Community College Teaching: A Chance to Make a Difference. Dr. Diane Finley Associate Professor, Psychology Prince George’s Community College Largo, Maryland. What is a Community College? (Historically). First community college was founded in 1901 – Joliet (IL) Junior College

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Community College Teaching: A Chance to Make a Difference

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  1. Community College Teaching: A Chance to Make a Difference • Dr. Diane Finley • Associate Professor, PsychologyPrince George’s Community College • Largo, Maryland APA 2002Preparing Future Faculty

  2. What is a Community College?(Historically) • First community college was founded in 1901 – Joliet (IL) Junior College • In early years, focus was on general liberal arts • During the Depression, community colleges began offering job programs • In 1948, the Truman Commission promoted the creation of a network of community colleges • National Network was in place by the 1960s with 457 public community college APA 2002Preparing Future Faculty

  3. What is a Community College?(Today) • Community colleges educate more than one-half of the nation’s undergraduates • They offer transfer programs, workforce training and non-credit “enrichment” courses • Each is a distinct institution with its own goals and missions but they share goals of access and service • They are becoming “centers of education open to all” (AACC) • There are 1004 public institutions and 147 independent ones. They enroll 10.4 million students APA 2002Preparing Future Faculty

  4. Who are community college students today? • 44% of all undergraduates • 45% of first-time first year students • 58% are women • 46% of African-American students • 55% of Hispanic/Latino students • 55% of Native American students • 46% of Asian/Pacific Islanders • 63% are part time (11 or fewer credits) • 33% receive some sort of financial aid (tuition averages $1500) • Average age: 29 APA 2002Preparing Future Faculty

  5. Students, cont. • 60% of those taking the RN tests are graduates of associates programs • 65% of new healthcare workers get their training at community colleges • In Maryland 60% of elementary teachers begin their careers at community colleges • 450,000 earn associate’s degrees annually APA 2002Preparing Future Faculty

  6. Famous Community College Students • Gwendolyn Brooks, Poet Laureate, Kennedy-King College • Billy Crystal, Comedian, Nassau Community College • Annette Bening, Actress, San Diego Mesa College • J. Craig Venter, Celera Genomics Corp, College of San Mateo • Nolan Ryan, Pitcher • Sheryl Swoopes, Professional Basketball Player • 39 current members of Congress APA 2002Preparing Future Faculty

  7. Who are community college faculty today? • 254,000 faculty • 44% are female (will increase in future) • 15% are minorities (number is shrinking) • 45% are over 49 years of age (1/2 will retire in the next 15 years) • 53% are part-time • 65%have a master’s as their highest degree • 25% engage in research (often teaching related and involving students) APA 2002Preparing Future Faculty

  8. My journey • High School English teacher • Master’s in Counseling • Chaplain/Counselor • PhD program • Teaching at the College level: • four year liberal arts college • four years adjunct/visiting: • community college, 4 year liberal arts, weekend college, graduate counseling program, comprehensive university, distance courses; • Community College of Baltimore County • Prince George’s Community College APA 2002Preparing Future Faculty

  9. Pros of teaching at this level • Celebrates teaching • Low student/faculty ratios • Opportunity to shape core curriculum • Opportunity to influence students • Diverse student body • Flexible teaching schedules • Tenure process less onerous • Salary schedules recognize prior teaching APA 2002Preparing Future Faculty

  10. Cons of teaching at this level • Reliance on part-timers • Less prepared student body • Limited course offerings • Teach 5 courses a semester APA 2002Preparing Future Faculty

  11. Advice to new and soon-to-be graduates • Think long and hard about your career goals • Test out the environment by adjuncting while in graduate school • You will have to seek out mentors who will support your choice of a community college • You may face some resistance from hiring committees – prepare a set of application materials that focus on your teaching experiences and your desire to work with students, not to do research • Read the literature on teaching and the community college journals • Get any and all teaching experience you can, especially for lower level courses • If you teach at a community college, be sure to get a letter of recommendation from the chair or another faculty member. APA 2002Preparing Future Faculty

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