Dive Brief:
- Clark State Community College has joined two-year colleges in Ohio and those in 18 other states offering a four-year degree — but it's a trend that some four-year institutions find troubling.
- Ohio initially rejected Clark State's proposal because the manufacturing technology management program it proposed appeared to be too similar to degrees offered at nearby four-year institutions, according to the Springfield News-Sun. The college revised the plan, which was approved.
- Clark State officials said in a statement that local employers have committed to enrolling more than 100 students in the new four-year program.
Dive Insight:
In a report article entitled “More Community Colleges Are Offering Bachelor’s Degrees — And Four-Year Universities Aren’t Happy About It”, the Pew Charitable Trusts noted that several other community colleges in Ohio are offering four-year degrees. Gov. John Kasich favors the approach.
The Community College Review has cited advantages and disadvantages to four-year offerings at two-year institutions, and has described the various degrees that are available.
A report in California for legislators an advisory group warned that state officials should “exercise caution in expanding the bachelor’s degree pilot program in advance of the final evaluation," because information about its success was lacking and community colleges should perhaps concentrate on their mission and collaborate with four-year schools.
The American Educational Research Association has reported that there is no negative impact on nearby four-year institutions when community colleges offer bachelor’s degrees, and recommended that the institutions coordinate efforts that could benefit them both. Focusing on Florida, researchers for the organization found the programs did decrease participation in for-profit universities, nevertheless.