Community colleges are centers of educational opportunity. More than 100 years ago, this unique American invention positioned publicly funded higher education at close-to-home facilities and initiated a practice of welcoming all who desire to learn, regardless of wealth, heritage, or previous academic experience (American Association of Community Colleges).

A "community college" generally refers to a two-year institution of higher education offering levels of instruction adapted to fit the needs of the community. Community colleges are characterized by open admissions and equity (anyone can attend), a community-based philosophy, low tuition and a good-quality education, a wide range of offerings including two-year degrees (associate degree vs. a Bachelor’s degree resulting from a four-year college education), transferable degrees (for those who wish to go on to a four-year college or university), vocational and occupational training to prepare students for employment in specific fields, certificate courses, adult basic education, small business development assistance, English as a second language, developmental and remedial coursework, and noncredit community and continuing education.

Today’s 1,166 community colleges nationwide are unique and continue to honor their century-old heritage, but are quickly becoming engines of economic development and centers of innovative mixed-use retail, housing, office, and public open space community development projects.

Idaho Community Colleges = Economic Development + Workforce Development + Return on Investment

The United States and the state of Idaho face the emergence of a knowledge-based economy, with a demand for highly trained and educated workers, which is greater – and faster growing – than ever before. Our nation also faces fierce global competitors eager to meet this demand and land the good jobs and burgeoning opportunities that the new knowledge-based industries bring with them.

Increasing access to Idaho’s postsecondary institutions for all Idahoans has been deemed a top priority by many constituents – including (but, not limited to) state government and business leaders, stakeholders such as the Idaho State Board of Education, current and prospective Idaho employers, parents, children, the general workforce, and those in need of continued educational opportunities. Community colleges, with their open admissions policies and lower costs can be a high-impact solution to addressing this priority.

According to an examination of the 2002 Census Data, the Boise/Nampa area, with a combined regional population of almost 700,000, is the largest metropolitan area in the United States without a community college.

Nearly 25 years of studies have documented the need for a community college to serve this growing population (see a summary of studies at Resources and Information.) The stakes could not be greater for Idaho. At issue is whether our standard of living will rise or fall in a global economic environment that demands even larger numbers of highly trained and educated workers.

The stakes are equally high for individual Idahoans. In a period of overall prosperity, the following two groups have been left behind: those with only a high school education have not improved their economic status on average; and those with less than a high school education, have seen their real income decline. Education and training beyond high school is a broad and inclusive concept, but whether an individual is on an educational path that leads to a specialty certificate or Ph.D., higher education is no longer just the most direct route to a middle class life; it has become essentially the only route.

Consider the following community college benefits:

Good Investment

• An average real return of $9.30. The cost-benefit ratio to society for a two-year associate degree is even higher at $10.52. Their analysis found that the state recovers its subsidy of higher education in sales taxes alone. This happens as more highly educated people earn more money and increase their spending, which yields more in sales taxes (Victor Ukpolo and Thomas F. Dernburg, working for the Tennessee Board of Regents, October 2002).
• A 2002 North Idaho College study found for every dollar invested, there is a return of $10.34 in higher future earnings over a student’s working life (The Socioeconomic Benefits Generated by North Idaho College, CC Benefits, October 2002).
• A Florida study had similar findings with an average return of $13.37 in state output for every dollar of public support invested in a community college graduate with an associate arts or sciences degree (Center for Educational Performance & Accountability, Tallahassee, Florida, February 2006).

High Value Jobs

Research shows that education pays. Students who complete associate degrees and certificates are more likely to move into higher-status management and professional positions with higher earnings. An investment of a few thousand dollars now will likely pay lifelong dividends, as students who earn associate degrees average lifetime earnings of more than $250,000 to $400,000 more than people without degrees (AACC, National Profile of Community Colleges; Trends and Statistics, 3rd Ed.).
Idaho Department of Commerce Poster

Fast, Flexible Worker Training

Instructional programs offered at the community colleges are increasingly important for companies seeking fast, flexible worker training, and responding to community need. The programs may be original courses created by the community college or may be the application of programs recognized by local industry. This is especially poignant in Idaho where we are facing a shortage in healthcare, construction, computers/technology, and more (see Community College Needs) (Baum, Sandy, and Kathleen Payea. Education pays 2004; The Benefits for Individuals and Society, College Board, 2004).

Reduces Remediation Costs

According to the Idaho State Board of Education, one-third of college freshmen require remediation courses, costing the state $2 million in 2005. In the Treasure Valley, students currently pay $211 for a non-credit remediation course, far more than the average community college rate of $76 to $145 per course.

Catalyst for Community Development

Community colleges are becoming “magnets” for higher-income baby boomers and seniors seeking to retire to newly-formed “campus centered communities,” where community colleges serve as the core of community life, including housing, retail, offices, public space, arts and farmer’s markets.
Campus Centered Communities, Public Private Ventures, Inc.

Community colleges are distinctively unique and differ greatly from traditional four-year colleges and universities, which exist to offer undergraduate degrees and graduate specialty programs. Community colleges are based on the fundamental principles of access and affordability, offering postsecondary options to families, individuals, communities and businesses, who otherwise would not be able to access the benefits of higher education.

• Accessible – Community colleges' commitment to accessibility is facilitated by open admissions policies and low tuitions. Consequently, community college enrollments reflect the rich diversity of the nation, and campuses are populated with people of all ages, ethnic and cultural heritages, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Responsive – Responding to local needs is an integral goal of community colleges. This commitment to local service, coupled with the promotion of lifelong learning, has resulted in multifaceted curricula. Community colleges train the future workforce and instruct employed workers in new technologies. It is no longer uncommon for a person with a college degree to attend a community college for computer courses or to otherwise update work skills.
• Options – While occupational and technical programs are the focus for many students, attaining credits that transfer for a baccalaureate degree continues to be a goal for a large segment of the community college population. The number of community college students who need remedial education programs has increased markedly in recent years. Adult education courses that respond to social and recreation interests are also popular at many colleges.
• Affordable – Community colleges' low tuitions and financial aid have kept higher education within the reach of many Americans. Although community college tuitions have increased in recent years, they remain significantly lower than those at four-year institutions.
• Variety – Community colleges offer a variety of credit and noncredit programs in occupations that the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts will be in demand early into the next decade.
• Class Size – Community college students learn in relatively small classes from instructors whose primary responsibility is teaching, not research, and average student-teacher contact time is higher at community colleges than at other higher education institutions.
• Practical – Most community colleges have transfer agreements with baccalaureate institutions by which the senior institutions accept community college credits toward four-year degree requirements. Many students choose to complete their freshman and sophomore years of coursework at a community college, thus significantly reducing the cost of a four-year degree.
• Delivery Models – Community College delivery models often include on-site, online, hybrid, or a combination of these models.

• American Association of Community Colleges
• "The Socioeconomic Benefits Generated by North Idaho College." CC Benefits, Kjell A. Christophersen and M. Henry Robison, October 2002.
• "Putting Minds to Work Pays Big Dividends: The Impact of Florida Community Colleges on Student’s Prosperity and the State’s Economy: A Solid Return on Investment." Center for Educational Performance & Accountability, February 2006.
• Idaho State Board of Education: Community College Initiative: Endorse expanded access to postsecondary education.

Please see Resources and Information

• Idaho Business Coalition for Education Excellence
• August 9, 2006 - The tasks to complete for community colleges by G Michael and K Learned

Campus Centered Communities, Public Private Ventures, Inc.