College and University Blog
Community College Overload: High Enrollment Means Less Access to Necessary Classes
In the midst of the recession, community college students are already noticing the impact of high enrollment rates and substantial budget cuts.
The results of a new survey that was specially commissioned to better understand the plight of community college students in order to help them succeed found that one-third of students were unable to enroll in a class because it was already full.
The first national survey of its kind, the Pearson Foundation Community College Student Survey was conducted online by Harris Interactive between September 27 and November 4, 2010. The Pearson Foundation is a non-profit group that aims to make a difference by promoting literacy, learning, and great teaching. The survey was comprised of responses from 1,434 community college students between the ages of 18 and 59 who were enrolled in a U.S. community college and pursuing at least one course for college credit at any point between August 1, 2010, and the time the survey was taken.
Enrolling in Community College Courses? Good Luck!
About 20% of students surveyed reported difficulty enrolling in required courses for the fall 2010 semester, and about one-third had trouble enrolling in desired classes, reports the Wall Street Journal.
Inside Higher Ed points out that many educators believe students that carry heavier course loads and continually make consistent progress toward a degree or credential have a greater chance of completion. However, as a whole, community college students enrolled in fewer courses than they had anticipated during the fall 2010 semester. According to the results of the survey, the average student planned to take 3.3 courses but wound up enrolling in 2.9 courses instead.
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Melissa Rhone+
Melissa Rhone earned her Bachelor of Music in Education from the University of Tampa. She resides in the Tampa Bay area and enjoys writing about college, pop culture, and epilepsy awareness.