The opinion piece argues that community colleges should offer bachelor’s degrees to address high dropout rates among students who aspire to higher credentials. It counters concerns about mission creep by emphasizing benefits for students and industries facing workforce shortages. The author highlights that most community college enrollees aim for a bachelor’s but many never complete it.
Key Points
- Policymakers debate community college bachelor’s as potential mission creep or duplication of university roles.
- Most community college students aspire to bachelor’s degrees but face barriers to completion.
- Offering these degrees could fill essential industry roles and improve student outcomes.
Implications for Educational Freedom
Expanding community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees promotes educational freedom by increasing affordable options and school choice in higher education, empowering students and parents to select pathways that best fit their needs without reliance on traditional universities.
Source: OPINION: Too many community college students never finish what they started, and that must change
