COMMUNITY COLLEGES: America s s Best Kept Secret ACCRAO March 2007 A Gateway to Higher Education in the United States Judy Irwin, Director International Programs and Services AACC
The American Association of Community Colleges Promotes U.S. Community Colleges Locally and Globally Represents 1,157 regionally accredited, associate degree-granting institutions in the United States Focuses on Advocacy, Workforce Development, Leadership, International Education & Exchange
AACC International Goals Promote a positive image of community colleges worldwide Advance global exchanges Increase international student enrollment at two-year institutions Disseminate information Work with Federal agencies and international entities
Building the Global Community AACC/ACCT Joint Statement on the Role of Community Colleges in International Education
Community Colleges are America at Its Best Bill Clinton, Former U.S. President Community colleges have always been driven by what is most relevant to the employment market." Bill Gates, Chairman, Microsoft Corporation
Community College Concept Provides first 2-years 2 of a university education Offers Access & Affordability, i.e., lower costs & requirements Provides High Quality Education with focus on Student Learning Responds to Same Regional Accreditation Agencies assessing Universities Plays a vital role in workforce & economic development
1158 Community Colleges All Regionally Accredited
Higher Education Institutions 4,096 Institutions in the U.S. 15% 45% 15% 25% Public 4-year Public 2-year Private 4-year Private 2-year
Revenue Sources of Public Community Colleges Other sources 10% Private grants, gifts, and contracts 1% Federal 6% Tuition and Fees 22% State 44% Local 17% Source: National Center for Education Statistics
Student Enrollment 46% of all U.S. undergraduates begin their higher education at community colleges 6.6 million students seek Associate degrees 5 million students take non- credit courses 59% women; 41% men
Distinguished Alumni Include Ismael Ahmed,, Ex Director, Arab Comm Center for Economic & Social Services Eileen Collins, Space Shuttle Commander Calvin Klein,, Clothing Designer George Lucas, Producer/Director Arnold Schwarzenegger,, CA Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu,, Governor, Lago,, Nigeria Craig Venter, Genome Scientist Gaddi Vasquez, Director, U.S. Peace Corps
Enrollment and Trends of International Students 83,160 international students at community colleges in 2005/06 CC host 3 x as many international students as baccalaureate institutions 90,000 80,000 70,000 60,000 50,000 Open Doors 2006: Trend in International Student Enrollments 1999/2000 2000/2001 2001/2002 2002/2003 2003/2004 2004/2005 2005/2006
Places of Origin: Differences between All Institutions and Community Colleges Latin America 12% All Institutions N Amer/ Oceania 6% Latin America 22% Community Colleges N Amer/ Oceania 3% MidEast 6% Europe 13% Africa 7% Asia 56% MidEast 5% Europe 11% Africa 11% Asia 48% While students from Asia comprise the lion s share of Community College international student enrollments, it is less than 50% -- as compared with all institutions, where students from Asia account for over half of all international student enrollments. The percentage of Community College students from Latin America is almost double that of all institutions
FIELDS OF STUDY International Students at Associate s s Institutions Engineering 5% Health Professions 8% Undeclared 10% Fine & Applied Arts 5% Other 28% Other includes: Liberal Arts & Sciences, General Studies & Humanities, Communication, Journalism & Related Programs, Legal Professions & Studies, Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Family & Consumer Sciences, Human Sciences, Communications Technologies, Library & Archival Sciences, Vocational Home Economics, Military Technologies Mathematics & Computer Sciences 10% All Others 14% Business & Management 20% Source: IIE Open Doors
Why 83,000+ International Students Choose U.S. Community Colleges Complete first 2 years of a university education with Credit Transfer Prospects to 4-year 4 Universities Community Colleges Offer Cost-effective Tuition Fees Opportunities to Learn & Enhance English Abilities Focus on Student Learning Small Class Size OPT After Each Degree
AACC: Global Promotion Recruitment Fairs Student Guide Web site Working with Overseas Advisers Advocacy
2002-2006 2006 Recruitment Trips ASIA Spring / Fall 2002 / Spring 2004 & 2005/Fall 2006 Korea China Thailand Singapore LATIN AMERICA Fall 2003 / 2005 Mexico Brazil Peru EUROPE Taiwan Japan Indonesia Vietnam Argentina Colombia Summer 2003 / Fall 2004 Poland Bulgaria Sweden Turkey
AACC Recruitment Trips are Designed Solely for Two-Year Colleges To Showcase their colleges to students and their parents Meet with U.S. Embassy officials and EducationUSA advising centers Build relationships and foster partnerships
A Guide to Studying at Community Colleges in the USA Overseas Distribution EducationUSA Advising Centers Fulbright Offices U.S. Embassies High schools Promotes Two-Year Colleges in the USA
Website for International Stude www.communitycollegeusa.co AACC & STUDY IN THE USA Designed for International Students to learn about U.S. Community Colleges
Works Closely With U. S. Department of State * Consular Affairs Visa Issues * EducationUSA Advising Offices To promote community colleges U. S. Department of Homeland Security * Student & Exchange Visitor Program (SEVIS) U.S. Department of Education
STATE DEPARTMENT AWARDS $3 MILLION TO CCID To provide training pathways for students to attend U.S. community colleges and take expertise back home Students from Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan, South Africa and Brazil will study at Daytona CC (FL); Highline CC (WA); Hillsborough CC (FL); Kirkwood CC (IA); North Harris Montgomery CC District (TX); Northampton CC (PA); and Parkland College (IL) Disciplines will include Information Technology, Health Programs, Business, Media, and Engineering Programs
U.S. Welcomes International Students Condoleezza Rice, U.S. Secretary of State We must increase our exchanges with the rest of the world. We must work closer than ever with educational institutions Karen Hughes, Under Secretary of State for Public Affairs and Public Diplomacy *** We believe we can double the number of foreign students in U.S. community colleges
AACC & AACRAO Working Together to Advance the Role of Community Colleges and AACRAO Contact: Judy Irwin, AACC jirwin@aacc.nche.edu