THE DIVERTED DREAM

Community Colleges and the Promise of Educational Opportunity

OBJECTIVES

To explore the changes of community college over five decades.

To relate the development of community college growth with economical, business and environmental changes taking place in higher education.

Examine college programs to the needs of society and the community.

THE TAKEOFF PERIOD

G. I. Bill of 1944 Higher Education for American Democracy

1946

Truman Commission “Commission does not subscribe to the belief

that higher education should be confined to an intellectual elite …” (U.S. President’s Commission 1948)

“…free and universal access to education, in terms of the interest, ability, and need of the student, must be a major goal in American education” (U.S. President’s Commission 1948)

THE TAKEOFF PERIOD

Truman Commission Change the name to Community College Make the college part of the community Extending educational opportunities more

vocational Growth – supported expansion of facilities

Between 1938-1953 increased from 258-388 (Fields 1962, p.42)

New York – leader of all of the states Wisconsin was leader in the Midwest, one of the three

states which was an extension of the state universities Minnesota – coordinated systems to match student

demand to labor market

THE TAKEOFF PERIOD

Cold War – fear of loosing pace with Soviet UnionThis slowed the pace for vocational education in

community colleges – wanted to protect American Education

1950 - mid 1960 expansion of job opportunities outpaced the increase in college graduates – “golden age” for college graduates

Studies indicated that transfer students did as well at the universities as those who entered as freshman but now community colleges were predominately lower middle-class and working-class

COMPARISON OF FOUR COLLEGES BY OCCUPATION OF STUDENT’S FATHER 1958

Sputnik – 1957 growing concerns about U.S. strength in competition “…made the concept of [technical] training acceptable (Brick 1964, p. 130)

Rapid Growth Vocational Education Act of 1963 Was it democratization effect or diversion

effect

ENROLLMENT IN TWO YEAR INSTITUTIONS1950-1970

1960’S What was going on at the

universities? Discrepancy between minorities and

class

DEVELOPMENT OF VOCATIONAL STUDIES

Support Federal government – financial aid

Higher Education Act of 1965 – develop cooperative arrangement with business and pubic employers

Vocational Education Act – amendment 1968 Adult Basic Education Program of 1966 Allied Health Professions Act of 1966

Federal funding increased from $7.4 million to $31.4 million

Kellogg Foundation $29 million from 1958-1978 Sloan Foundation, Aerospace Foundation, Robert Wood

Johnson Foundation, National Science Foundation, Carnegie Commission

1969-1973 thirty-seven major corporations joined advertising "upgrade your image”

EARLY 1970’S

Over supply of college graduates for the workforce Recession 1969-1971 Vietnam war was ending “Higher Education: Who Needs It” – media

1972 Decrease in wages – underemployment in

labor market – who wasn’t getting the jobs Technical education was the way to go -

media

SOCIAL CLASS PRESSURES

Nixon comments of terminal degrees for Blacks – vocational education

Non-traditional students were attending – part time students increase due to economics

“Secure well-paid, if sometimes unglamorous, jobs” – close to socioeconomic background

Classification in community colleges – if too intellectual were “uppity”, “brown nosing” if planning on transferring

SEPARATION OF CLASS

1978 – COLLEGE STUDENTS ENROLLED

THE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION DREAM

Change of the student composition Late 1970’s the dream of vocational

education is present Increased enrollment Does vocational education really meet

the needs of the community?

http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2010/12/06/the-50-best-careers-of-2011

16

TOP CAREERS IN 2011

Accountant Sales manager Commercial Pilot Film and video editor Heating, air

conditioning and refrigeration

Interpreter/translator Computer support

specialist Gaming manager

Dental hygienist Clinical lab technician Massage therapist Physical therapy

assistant Radiologic technologist Nurse Court reporter Environmental science

technician Police

SPECIALTIES AT COLLEGES

Wisconsin Indianhead Technical Collegehttp://www.witc.edu/

Energy Efficiency Technician Architectural Commercial Design Automated Packaging Systems Technician Marine Repair Technician Telecommunication Technologie

SPECIALTIES AT COLLEGES

Chippewa Valley Technical Collegehttp://www.cvtc.edu/

Agriscience Technician Electrical Power Distribution Renal Dialysis Technician Farm Business & Production Management

SPECIALTIES AT COLLEGES

Western Technical Collegehttp://www.westerntc.edu/

Air Conditioning, Heat, & Refrigeration Technology

Farm Business & Production Management Bio-Medical Electronics Respiratory Therapist

SPECIALTIES AT COLLEGES

Southeast Technical Collegehttp://www.southeastmn.edu/

Computerized (CNC) Precision Machining Technology

Nanotechnology Violin Repair Program Jewelry Manufacturing and Repair

SPECIALTIES AT COLLEGES

Northeast Iowa Community Collegehttp://www.nicc.edu/

Animal Science Wind Turbine Repair Technician Viticulture Technology Gas Utility Construction and Service John Deer Ag Tech

COMMUNITY COLLEGES 1946-1985

Five basic changes: Name change from Junior College to Community

College with a predominately vocational emphasis

Increase of popularity due to low cost and convenience

Outside sponsorship to make vocational education a success

Changing market for college student Changing perception of community or vocational

education

CONCLUSION

The diverted dream of community colleges allows individuals an avenue to create

an occupation, a dream, a skill, a life.

So I ask, is it really a diverted dream

or is it part of the American Dream.

REFERENCES

American Council on Education (1967). The American freshman: National norms. Washington, D. C.: American Council on Education , Annual Report. In S. Brint & J. Karabel(1989). The diverted dream: community colleges and the promise of educational opportunity in America, 1900-1985 (p. 90). NY: Oxford University Press.

Austin, A.W. (1983). Strengthening transfer programs. In S. Brint & J. Karabel (1989). The diverted dream: community colleges and the promise of educational opportunity in America, 1900-1985 (p. 128). NY: Oxford University Press. (Reprinted from G. B. Vaughan and Associate, Issues for community college leaders in a new era (pp. 122-138). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass)

Brick, M. (1964) Forum and focus for the community college movement. NY: Bureau of Publication, Teachers College, Columbia University.

Brint, S. & Karabel, J. (1989). The diverted dream: community colleges and the promise of educational opportunity in America, 1900-1985. NY: Oxford University Press

Clark, B. (1960). The open door college: A case study. New York: McGraw-Hill. In S. Brint & J. Karabel (1989). The diverted dream: community colleges and the promise of educational opportunity in America, 1900-1985 (p. 74). NY: Oxford University Press.

Chippewa Valley Technical College (2011, March 28). Re: Program information. Retrieved from http://www.cvtc.edu/

Fields, R. (1962). The community college movement. NY: McGraw-HillHigher Education Act of 1965. In S. Brint & J. Karabel(1989). The diverted dream: community

colleges and the promise of educational opportunity in America, 1900-1985. NY: Oxford University Press.

REFERENCES CONTINUED

Monk-Turner, E. (1983). Sex differences in type of first college entered and occupational status changes over time. Social Science Journal, 22 ,89-97. In S. Brint & J. Karabel(1989). The diverted dream: community colleges and the promise of educational opportunity in America, 1900-1985 (p. 123). NY: Oxford University Press.

Northeast Iowa Community College (2011, March 28). Re: Program information. Retrieved from http://www.nicc.edu/

Southeast Technical College (2011, March 28). Re: Program information. Retrieved from http://www.southeastmn.edu/

Western Technical College (2011, March 28). Re: Program information. Retrieved from http://www.westerntc.edu/

Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College (2011, March 28). Re: Program information. Retrieved from http://www.witc.edu/

United States Bureau of the Census (1975). Histroical statistics of the United States: Colonial times to 1970. Wahington, D. C.: U.S. Government Pronting Office, Bicentennial ed., parts 1 and 2. In S. Brint & J. Karabel(1989). The diverted dream: community colleges and the promise of educational opportunity in America, 1900-1985 (p. 84). NY: Oxford University Press.

United States President’s Commission on Higher Education (1948). Higher education for American democracy. NY: Harper Brothers.

U.S. News (2010, December 6). The 50 best careers of 2011. Retrieved from http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2010/12/06/the-50-best-careers-of-2011