Community Education Pardess Mitchell Tara Mathien Kelly Taylor Tonya Dixon Robin James Norma Grassini-Komara

Current Issues Program Effectiveness – Community college needs to provide its worth to the community  especially community education programs – Programs are usually measured via a self reporting tool given to participants – Process evaluation Number of participants Questions pertain to enjoyment rather than outcomes

Current Issues Funding – Decreasing since the 1970’s – Enrollment continues to increase (must do more with less money) – Each State has a different formula to deal with funding Some use community education to help offset the costs when there has been low enrollment Some are forced to cut community education programs to deal with budget cuts

Current Issues Program Validity – Community education is often not mentioned when public figured give accolades to community college – Focus is often on the academic side – Adjunct are the ones who teach community education (less commitment to institution, poor communication with full timers) – Credits for life experiences Some say it is a marketing tool (80% of students who receive credits for life experiences later enroll in the college who game them) Is it valid? Discussion: Should students receive credit for life experiences?

Program Validity and Funding Activity You will work in groups of three In your groups, look through the continuing education catalogue and identify three courses as being individual serving and three that are community serving. With your group discuss whether each category should receive equal funding. Be prepared to justify your choices.