It sounds like a great idea to enroll in a community college: the tuition cost is low, it’s just two years, and you can transfer to a four-year institution after that. But all that glitters is rarely gold, we all know about the high dropout rates of community colleges. Yet, Alabamians appear quite satisfied about their community colleges and they play a vital role in promoting education in the state. What’s so special about community colleges in Alabama? Let’s find out.
Strong Focus By The State’s Board Of Education
The Department of Postsecondary Education of the Alabama State Board of Education has a strong team that devices policies for Alabama’s community college system. With insights from the team, the department has been able to quickly adapt and respond to the workforce needs of industry and the economy. To implement the College Completion Agenda introduced by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) encourages students to complete their degrees at the community college.
Community Colleges in Alabama – Valuing The Person, Not Just The Academic Awards!
In an article in the Huffington Post last year, Dr. Robert Exley, President, Snead State Community College talked about how the Community College System in this state is about helping each and every student realize their true potential and instill strong hopes to achieve a certain mark. The loss of any student is really a loss to the community and economy for this state, and that’s why professors and lecturers are particularly attentive and concerned about the progress of their students.
High College Completion Rates
Thanks to a dedicated effort by the state government, graduation and completion rates in community colleges are quite high. Top community colleges with high completion rates are Marion Military Institute (73%), Northeast Alabama Community College (70%), Snead State Community College (61%), Lawson State Community College-Birmingham Campus (55%), Enterprise State Community College (55%), and many more.
Various Technical and Vocational Programs
Community colleges in Alabama offer more than 150 technical programs to their citizens. Thus they provide state-of-the art education to students to help them launch a career in some high-demand, high-skills occupations. Over 106,000 people are served by technical and vocational colleges in Alabama, making it a strong contributor to the state’s economy.
Quality Education in Top Programs
Community Colleges under the ACCS offer various programs for students. Some of the more popular programs include:
- Accounting
- Administration
- Auto Mechanics
- Computer and Information Sciences
- Cosmetology
- Medical Technician
- Industrial Electronics Repair
- Nursing
- Welding
- Science Technicians
The Alabama Community Colleges System has strong liaisons with 4-year institutions to encourage further education for students. That’s why the state scores quite high when it comes to rankings of community colleges. Now if you are an Alabamian or plan to move to the state, don’t forget the option of attending a community college.
