What Are The Negatives Of Choosing A Community College?
Community colleges can pose several disadvantages to students. One of these is on transferring credits which can often be a problem. Usually, each college that offers four-year courses has its own requirements on the subjects needed for enrollment. However, there is now the so-called articulation agreement between community colleges and other four-year colleges nearby allowing associate degrees to qualify for transfer of credits. Sometimes, students are also allowed to complete their bachelor’s degrees through distance learning from the community college campus. Several states have also passed rules allowing associate’s degrees to be credited to bachelor’s degrees upon transfer to state universities.
Many courses in community colleges are taught by part-time lecturers with a master’s or bachelor’s degree in the field. A study done by the University of Washington’s Labor Center has found that community colleges utilizing part-time or adjunct faculty have lower graduation rates compared to those that have full-time teachers. Adjunct professors may not always deliver quality education as they juggle from several teaching loads in different schools. This can cause them to be less focused on their teaching in just one school. Students will suffer as well because of the little attention they may be getting from their adjunct teachers.
Another disadvantage is the lack of on-campus housing in some community colleges. Unlike in many universities, dorms are not available in small colleges so those who opt to enroll in these schools will have to find housing facilities such as apartments or halls off campus. This may discourage students from taking part in extra-curricular activities. This is also an added cost considering that students away from home will have to commute daily to and from school.
People holding associate’s degrees from community colleges earn less income compared to those with bachelor’s degrees, according to research. The number of years of study has been found to be directly related to job earnings. This only means that the years of education are more valued in the workplace than the associate’s degrees or certificates.
Opportunities for research are also limited because of smaller libraries compared to large universities that provide state-of-the-art facilities. It is a fact that research entails having as many resources as possible and limited resources in small colleges is quite a disadvantage.
There may be fewer sections as well available for students to enroll compared to four or five sections in four-year colleges. Lower-division courses needed for a certain major are not likewise offered in some community colleges. At present though, many community colleges have enrollment programs with local universities that allow students to complete the needed lower-division courses before transferring.