Community Colleges Enrollments Down?

[Kathianne]

I'll say this shocks me. Now into my second year of subbing mostly in high schools, I know of many kids that could get at least partial scholarships to any number of state and private schools. Instead, they elect to go to COD, our local community college, where if enrolled in the honor program and earn a 3.5 gpa, the last two years can be completed at U of I Champaign or Chicago, free ride, including books and room and board.

Yet, they are losing growth.

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/2...ews/709129959/

...College of DuPage officials have seen a decrease in students taking general education requirements such as English, speech and history courses, while health care, culinary and hospitality, and Homeland Security programs are filled to capacity.
“The data aligns with individuals looking for occupational skills they can actually use to go get gainful employment in a short period of time,” COD’s Bente said. “Gen eds are important for a degree but they’re not going to get you a job right away.” ...

Read more: http://www.dailyherald.com/article/2...#ixzz1XmUzP0LR

[ConHog]

I'll say this shocks me. Now into my second year of subbing mostly in high schools, I know of many kids that could get at least partial scholarships to any number of state and private schools. Instead, they elect to go to COD, our local community college, where if enrolled in the honor program and earn a 3.5 gpa, the last two years can be completed at U of I Champaign or Chicago, free ride, including books and room and board.

Yet, they are losing growth.

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/2...ews/709129959/

I'm friends with the President of our local junior college. He told me that attendance has declined in the last couple years and it has coincided with the government cracking down on Pel Grant fraud.

[Nukeman]

I'm friends with the President of our local junior college. He told me that attendance has declined in the last couple years and it has coincided with the government cracking down on Pel Grant fraud.

The govt is full of morons when it comes to lending money for college. Trust me after going thru the process this year with my son, its pathetic that we can find CHEAPER loans trough private banking than the fed.

Now if there was pel grant fraud than its because the govt didn't double check they just handed out money...

True story, I have a buddy that honestly checked the wrong box on race (he checked black instead of white) he received a ton of support and financial aid. Fast forward a couple of months when checking it was noted he was white and not black, when called to the business office they asked him about it, his statement to them was "why would it matter the financial information was the same and correct". They said "but your not black", once again why would it matter the financial information was the SAME. They had no answer for him as to why it would be different, but they took a lot away the following semester. Now why do you suppose that was???

[chloe]

I'll say this shocks me. Now into my second year of subbing mostly in high schools, I know of many kids that could get at least partial scholarships to any number of state and private schools. Instead, they elect to go to COD, our local community college, where if enrolled in the honor program and earn a 3.5 gpa, the last two years can be completed at U of I Champaign or Chicago, free ride, including books and room and board.

Yet, they are losing growth.

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/2...ews/709129959/

Gen Ed sucks ......just kidden, I just need to pass algebra.....


I think with the economy being bad people are more in a hurry to get a skilled degree fast and some of the ones offered do not require 4-6 years of college with required 2 yrs of Gen ED.

[logroller]

The govt is full of morons when it comes to lending money for college. Trust me after going thru the process this year with my son, its pathetic that we can find CHEAPER loans trough private banking than the fed.

Now if there was pel grant fraud than its because the govt didn't double check they just handed out money...

True story, I have a buddy that honestly checked the wrong box on race (he checked black instead of white) he received a ton of support and financial aid. Fast forward a couple of months when checking it was noted he was white and not black, when called to the business office they asked him about it, his statement to them was "why would it matter the financial information was the same and correct". They said "but your not black", once again why would it matter the financial information was the SAME. They had no answer for him as to why it would be different, but they took a lot away the following semester. Now why do you suppose that was???

My fin aid was audited this last spring for 2011/2012. I had to bring in all my tax info. Then this fall they put a hold on it saying I needn't to submit my W2s--which I didn't have b/c I'm full time student. They said i had to fill out a form stating such. So I go in, and guess what they ask for as proof--my tax forms. Stereotypical Gov't efficiency. I had to wait in the lobby for 30 minutes, was told they just wanted to make sure there wasn't anything else they needed me to provide-- I informed them I had nothing more to provide, as they had it all already....I'm sure if I was on the govt dole all that information would have been submitted electronically, they'd just transfer the funds onto an EBT card.

As to why your buddy got less, assuming it was due to his race, I'd venture to guess that when you have a minority pop who already gets free handouts for making babies, you need to sweeten the deal to get them off their backs and into school. Makes sense... if it works... which it probably doesn't.

Just curious, how much did they take away from your buddy?

[darin]

College doesn't impress me lately. Honestly, I'm scared what my kids will get if they choose that route. Where is the return on investment? Kids are graduating indoctrinated with socialist ideals and "progressive" agendas.

[Nukeman]

College doesn't impress me lately. Honestly, I'm scared what my kids will get if they choose that route. Where is the return on investment? Kids are graduating indoctrinated with socialist ideals and "progressive" agendas.

D.. you just have to pick a nice conservative college... Like the one our oldest is attending. Infact that was one of the conversations we had with his academic advisor. His words \

"This is a very conservative college that specialize in REAL degrees that your son will get a REAL job" Kind of nice..

[logroller]

College doesn't impress me lately. Honestly, I'm scared what my kids will get if they choose that route. Where is the return on investment? Kids are graduating indoctrinated with socialist ideals and "progressive" agendas.

Wrong Wrong wrong. Raise 'em right, then send 'em to the schools where they can make an impact and steer their peers according to those ideals you've instilled in them. Do not feel as though another has some greater impact upon your children than you do--If you do that, the terrorists win, er I mean socialist, oh no, can't say that either............wait it's uh...those guys, er girls, people... whatever, screw 'em, they're not mightier than thou. What are they gonna do, give em some bad marks. I've flunked outta 2 schools, three times. I'm still healthy and happy; met the love of my life after I'd bombed college, so trust in your children as you do in your ideals; just as you wouldn't shy from a challenge, don't have your kids do so either. Most college grads are destined for a life of servitude to a master they hardly know, but their master knows them. Or maybe me a PB had one too many

[Nukeman]

Just curious, how much did they take away from your buddy?

he lost about 65% of his aid the second semester.. Something about "restructering" or some BS....

[chloe]

They are cracking down on financial aid, me & my 18 yr old are both in College, and even though I'm not working and my taxes showed less then $25,000 last year they still declined her any financial aid.

[Thunderknuckles]

College doesn't impress me lately. Honestly, I'm scared what my kids will get if they choose that route. Where is the return on investment? Kids are graduating indoctrinated with socialist ideals and "progressive" agendas.

Don't forget the heavy debt burden place on them before they even have a job.

In any case, college hasn't impressed me for some time. I only have a high school diploma but was lucky enough to get my start in Information Technology during the dot com boom when software developers were in high demand and I was easily employed from the start while others my age were still in college. Thus, after 4 years of real world experience, my degree'd counterparts came in at a junior level being paid far less than I was. By the time I became IT manager all of the folks reporting to me had either a Master's or PhD in computer science, still saddled with debt, and making far less money than me.

I may have been lucky because of the dot com boom but I know a lot of it also had to do with my personal drive. Today, I'm very glad I never wasted my time with college which is something that still shocks the hell out of my elders who grow up under the notion that you needed a degree to get ahead.