APA 2002 Preparing Future Faculty Community College Teaching: A Chance to Make a Difference Dr. Diane Finley Associate Professor, Psychology Prince George’s

APA 2002Preparing Future Faculty

Community College Teaching: A Chance to Make a Difference

Dr. Diane Finley

Associate Professor, PsychologyPrince George’s Community College

Largo, Maryland

Administrator

How many of you attended a community college?


What is a Community College?(Historically)

• First community college was founded in 1901 – Joliet (IL) Junior College

• In early years, focus was on general liberal arts• During the Depression, community colleges began

offering job programs• In 1948, the Truman Commission promoted the

creation of a network of community colleges• National Network was in place by the 1960s with

457 public community college

Administrator

Even now we see enrollments at the community colleges tied to the economy. In a bad economy our enrollments rise faster than the four year schools. Part of that is the cost and part is because we offer faster routes to job training.


What is a Community College?(Today)

• Community colleges educate more than one-half of the nation’s undergraduates

• They offer transfer programs, workforce training and non-credit “enrichment” courses

• Each is a distinct institution with its own goals and missions but they share goals of access and service

• They are becoming “centers of education open to all” (AACC)

• There are 1004 public institutions and 147 independent ones. They enroll 10.4 million students

Administrator

In 1997, ccs enrolled 5,420,265 undergraduates; 4year schools enrolled 6,845,272.


Who are community college students today?

• 44% of all undergraduates• 45% of first-time first year students• 58% are women• 46% of African-American students • 55% of Hispanic/Latino students• 55% of Native American students• 46% of Asian/Pacific Islanders• 63% are part time (11 or fewer credits)• 33% receive some sort of financial aid

(tuition averages $1500)• Average age: 29

Administrator

Let me talk about cc students since they are at the heart and center of the community college and area really the reason to consider a career in the community college.

Administrator

Part-time also means they are working often 40 060 hours per week and taking care of families and commuting


Students, cont.

• 60% of those taking the RN tests are graduates of associates programs

• 65% of new healthcare workers get their training at community colleges

• In Maryland 60% of elementary teachers begin their careers at community colleges

• 450,000 earn associate’s degrees annually


Famous Community College Students

•Gwendolyn Brooks, Poet Laureate, Kennedy-King College•Billy Crystal, Comedian, Nassau Community College•Annette Bening, Actress, San Diego Mesa College•J. Craig Venter, Celera Genomics Corp, College of San Mateo•Nolan Ryan, Pitcher•Sheryl Swoopes, Professional Basketball Player•39 current members of Congress

Administrator

Just to show that community colleges have played a large role in educating some of our most influentail and famous people -


Who are community college faculty today?

• 254,000 faculty • 44% are female (will increase in future)• 15% are minorities (number is shrinking)• 45% are over 49 years of age (1/2 will retire in the

next 15 years)• 53% are part-time• 65%have a master’s as their highest degree• 25% engage in research (often teaching related and

involving students)

Administrator

In a 1991 study, 86% of full-time faculty indcated that they had participated in what is called the scholarship of integration such as preparing quality software, preparing an online course, artwork or publications of poems and essays.

Administrator

We are seeing increasing numbers of faculty with PhD or terminal degrees.


My journey• High School English teacher• Master’s in Counseling• Chaplain/Counselor• PhD program• Teaching at the College level: four year liberal arts college

four years adjunct/visiting: community college, 4 year liberal arts, weekend

college, graduate counseling program, comprehensive university, distance courses;

• Community College of Baltimore County• Prince George’s Community College

Administrator

Administrator

Administrator

PGCC was named one of 16 national models for undregraduate educaiton by the American association of COlleges and Universities (along with Colgate University and The Air Force Academy)We educate more African-American students than any other school in MarylandWe have an edowed professorship in Business and ManagementWe increased our transfer rate to 28.5% for all students and 25/7 for minorities.We developed an Honors Academiy with partnerships with several local universities and colleges.Over 1/3 of faclty have the PhD.We received the 2002 Theodore M. Hesburgh Award for Enhancing Undergraduate Teaching and Learning - we were the only community college to reive this award which was for our Book Bridge Project.


Pros of teaching at this level• Celebrates teaching• Low student/faculty ratios• Opportunity to shape core curriculum• Opportunity to influence students• Diverse student body• Flexible teaching schedules• Tenure process less onerous• Salary schedules recognize prior teaching

Administrator

Administrator

For instance, at PGCC, we have a student body that is 75% African Ameircan, 5 percent Asian, 3 % Hispanic and students from over 60 countries.


Cons of teaching at this level

• Reliance on part-timers• Less prepared student body• Limited course offerings• Teach 5 courses a semester

Administrator

Research shows quality of instruction does not vary but they do less of of the out-of-classroom work, leaving more for full-timers

Administrator

Most of us teach the basic courses - intro to psyc, lifespan, child, educational - that serve as general ed and prereqs for other program. We cannot offer traditional upper-level courses, mostly because the 4 year school will not accept them in transfer and it can be risky to offer special topic courses because the 4 years often won't take them.

Administrator

Can have only 1 or 2 preps, though and many schools offer opportunities for course reductions.


Advice to new and soon-to-be graduates

• Think long and hard about your career goals• Test out the environment by adjuncting while in graduate school• You will have to seek out mentors who will support your choice of a

community college • You may face some resistance from hiring committees – prepare a set

of application materials that focus on your teaching experiences and your desire to work with students, not to do research

• Read the literature on teaching and the community college journals• Get any and all teaching experience you can, especially for lower

level courses• If you teach at a community college, be sure to get a letter of

recommendation from the chair or another faculty member.

Documents

APA 2002 Preparing Future Faculty Community College Teaching: A Chance to Make a Difference Dr. Diane Finley Associate Professor, Psychology Prince George’s