Jc Grads Well-Represented: Colleges Hope to Impress Legislators

By Clarissa Aljentera, The Monterey County Herald, Calif.

Mar. 20–A large number of graduates of the University of California and the California State University systems start at a junior college, said a first-time report examining California’s community college system.

The study shows that 55 percent of CSU graduates last year — and 29 percent of the UC graduates — started at a community college.

“We were surprised at how high that number was, especially in the CSU schools,” said Patrick Perry, vice chancellor for the California Community Colleges.

The trend is mirrored at CSU-Monterey Bay, where 55 percent of students from the 2004-06 school years went through the system, said university statistics.

The 760-page statewide report, “Accountability Report for the Community Colleges,” was released Monday by California Community College Chancellor Mark Drummond and is aimed at legislators who can now assess the system’s 109 schools.

“Ultimately, we hope the accountability report will be used as a dashboard and a high level assessment tool that can be used by state policy makers,” said Patrick Perry, vice chancellor for the system.

Locally, Hartnell and Monterey Peninsula colleges play a role in establishing a foundation for higher education or shaping one’s vocational career, said administrators at the two campuses.

“We prepare them very, very well,” said MPC President Douglas Garrison. “The data shows that in this study… students who prepare at any community college and then go on to transfer do at least as well or better than what I’ll call the native students,” or students who start their undergraduate work at a university.

Hartnell President Ed Valeau said the college has to do a good job preparing students for a vocational career as well as for higher education.

“Hartnell, like many community colleges, plays a major role in transitioning people in general to a higher university,” said Valeau. “We also have a responsibility for vocational training. Vocational training to me is the lifeline to the development of this community, as it relates to having an educated work force.”

The report said statewide the completion rate for vocational courses at community colleges is 77 percent. MPC had an 84 percent completion rate and Hartnell had a 78 percent completion rate last year.

The report also showed:

–Community college students who earned a vocational degree or certificate saw their wages increase from $17,000 to $47,571 three years after earning their degree.

–More than a third of all 18-19 year-olds in California are enrolled in the system.

–By 2013, an additional 600,000 students will seek higher education in California, with 80 percent projected to enroll in community colleges.

To view the full report visit www.cccco.edu.

Clarissa Aljentera can be reached at 648-1171 or claljentera@montereyherald.com.

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Copyright (c) 2007, The Monterey County Herald, Calif.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.

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