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Community Colleges: Separate And Unequal

By Dr. Marciene Mattleman

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Community colleges enroll about 44% of the nation's college population and are in great danger of becoming separate and unequal institutions, according to a new report by the Century Foundation. At some colleges 'almost two-thirds of the students are black, Hispanic or members of other groups typically considered underrepresented in higher education'.

In order to deal with the "increasing racial and economic isolation of students," major changes are recommended, such as additional funding for the neediest students the way the federal Title I program works for elementary and high schools.

Policies to encourage transfers to public and private four-year colleges include: more two-year honors programs which would raise academic stature and create a culture of success to attract more middle class students, and urging highly selective colleges to pledge accepting community-college transfers for 5% of their junior classes.

Read more in The Chronicle of Higher Education on strengthening two-year colleges to end the separate and unequal college experience.

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