Community Colleges and Transfer ETS Policy Notes: News from the ETS Policy Information Center
- Author(s):
- Coley, Richard J. (Ed.)
- Publication Year:
- 1990
- Source:
- ETS Policy Notes, v3 n1, Win 1990
- Document Type:
- Periodical
- Page Count:
- 8
- Subject/Key Words:
- Educational Policy, Community Colleges, Policy Information Center (PIC), Ford Foundation-ETS Transfer Project, College Students, Higher Education, School Choice, College Transfer Students, Transfer Policy, Two-Year Colleges
Abstract
This issue of ETS Policy Notes (Volume 3, No. 1) provides three articles that discuss the role of community colleges (including technical and junior colleges) and the transfer of students to 4-year institutions. The first article, "Democracy's Colleges," suggests that community colleges are the most successful institutional innovation in 20th century American higher education. In 1989, community colleges served about 43% of all students in higher education, many of whom might not be eligible for typical 4-year institutions. For many students, community colleges are an avenue to 4-year colleges. The second article, "The Ford Foundation--ETS Transfer Project," describes an Educational Testing Service (ETS) program supported by the Ford Foundation to monitor the transfers of students from five community colleges into four-year institutions. The diversity of the colleges and the transient nature of their student bodies made research difficult, and it is concluded that more information is necessary to help colleges assist students in transferring. The third article, "Four Transfer Projects," summarizes the research reports for four of the five colleges in the ETS-Ford Foundation study: (1) Houston Community College; (2) Los Angeles Mission College; (3) San Diego City College; and (4) Lawson State Community College. Four graphs are included.