Image: With the cost of and need for college degrees rising, a common solution across 23 states has been to allow community colleges to award bachelor’s degrees. The perceived expansion of the traditional community college role has caused concern over how the policies affect neighboring 4-year institutions. In an article published by the American Educational Research Journal, Dennis A. Kramer II (IHE PhD), Justin Ortagus, and Jaqueline Donovan explore this phenomenon. Focusing on institutions in Florida, they conclude that community college baccalaureate (CCB) programs negatively impact enrollment among for-profit 4-year institutions, but they do not decrease enrollments at public 4-year institutions. Dr. Kramer and his co-authors surmise that a combination of factors draws students away from for-profit institutions and into CCBs. Both institution types respond to local labor demand and compete for the same applicant pool. In addition, for-profit institutions are more expensive without the same consistent record of positive student outcomes, compared to not-for-profit institutions. Evidence indicates that these programs may expand the pool of matriculants and increase overall degree attainment. They note that community CCB degree programs appeal to historically underrepresented students by offering “an alternative pathway to the bachelor’s degree for traditionally disadvantaged student types, who may not be able to earn their bachelor’s degree otherwise.” From a policy perspective, the authors suggest that any legislative decisions about allowing community colleges to award bachelor’s degrees should consider that CCBs are effective in increasing bachelor’s degree attainment to address local workforce development needs without harming public institution enrollment. Read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.3102/0002831220946309 Type of News/Audience: Alumni
