University Business - September 2006 - (Page 39)

COMMUNIT Y COLLEGES Taking Top Honors Honors colleges and other special programs at two-year schools educate the brightest students while improving transfer rates. By Caryn Meyers Fliegler T H E SPOTLIGHT OF AT tention has swung right toward community colleges in recent years, thanks in part to high-level public mentions. Yet as more people look to com- munity colleges to churn out students particularly those from low-income and minority backgrounds some logistics need to be ironed out, including how to improve transfer rates between two-year schools and elite four-year institutions. A study sponsored by the Jack Kent Initiatives such as the Valley Scholars program at South Texas College encourage students Cooke Foundation and conducted by to cross the bridge to powerhouse four-year institutions, including Texas A&M University. researchers at the University of Mas- sachusetts, Boston and the University Honors colleges can provide opportunities for low- of Southern California found that less than 1 percent of incoming students at income families with academically talented children. the nation's private elite four-year schools transferred from community colleges in four years at a private university. lege that will maintain rigorous academic 2002. Another project, Equity for All, also In launching its honors college, HCC standards and provide scholarships as well explores transfer rates. Of more than 400 is ramping up its efforts to work with po- as intensive guidance to students. under-represented minority students eligi- tential transfer destinations, such as the For admission to the honors college, ble for transfer at one California commu- University of Houston and its honors students need a minimum 3.5 GPA and nity college, less than 20 percent did so. college. HCC deans will meet with UH an 1800 score on the newer three-part Improving transfer rates remains in faculty to discuss forming a seamless tran- SAT. The college will be modeled after the interest of two-year and four-year in- sition between the two schools. That type one at Miami Dade College, which has stitutions: Community college leaders see of collaboration needs to take place more been recognized nationally and sent grad- helping students obtain degrees as part of often, says Alicia Dowd, an assistant pro- uates on to such prestigious institutions as their mission; administrators at four-year fessor at the Rossier School of Education Cornell, Yale, Johns Hopkins Md. , and institutions want to increase the numbers at the University of Southern California Middlebury College Vt. . of low-income and under-represented and co-principal investigator for the Jack Traditionally, community colleges minority students at their schools. Tal- Kent Cooke study titled Threading the have taken everyone from a GED gradu- ented community college students provide Needle of the American Dream . ate to someone who has been in the work- the perfect pool of future leaders. Honors A perceptual barrier keeps four-year force and wants retraining, says Maria colleges and special programs at two-year school leaders from understanding and Straus, director of learning initiatives at schools can help in that endeavor. valuing the academic credits that com- HCC. Honors has never been an area of munity college transfer students bring. development, but I think it's time now. A NEW DEVELOPMENT There's a lack of familiarity about how the These programs offer an opportunity for For example, Houston Community Col- curriculum differs or is the same, and how low-income families who have academi- lege, one of the largest two-year systems in pedagogy differs or is the same on the cally talented offspring but can't afford the country, is introducing an honors col- universitybusiness.com September 2006 | 39 Cmmnty906.indd Cmmnty906.indd 39 8/21/06 3:46:04 PM http://universitybusiness.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of University Business - September 2006

Contents
College Index
Company Index
Advisory Board
Editor's Note
Behind the News
Viewpoint
Marketing
Human Resources
Money Matters
Community Colleges
Summer Conference Report
Learning After Loss
Not Your Typical Textbook Advice
A Greener Attitude
Mobile Technology: One For All
Lessons in Landlording
Business Technology
What's New
Calendar of Events
Direct Connect
End Note

University Business - September 2006