Should The District Have A Community College?

Posted by Jessica Golloher on June 9, 2008 at 9:00am

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The answer appears to be a resounding yes. Some DC officials say a junior college is necessary in order to get many District residents better qualified for local employment.

Barbar Lang is President of DC’s Chamber of Commerce. She says city employers want to hire District residents but that’s not always possible because many just don’t have the education that is needed.

Lang says that only one third of the District’s 700-thousand yearly jobs go to local residents.

Officials say the next step is to conduct a feasibility study which will include how much the project will cost and what sort of financial benefit it will bring to the District.

DC is the only major city without a community college. It does have a four-year college, the embattled University of the District of Columbia. A recent audit of the university found that school officials mismanaged millions of dollars. The president of the university is in favor of a community college and says it would be good for residents because some students aren't prepared when they enter UDC.

Comment by Dick Gill on June 10, 2008 at 3:10pm: I think a post 12th grade institution with a mission to deliver first-rate vocational training would be great for DC and its citizens. With the current economic and building boom in the city, I suspect that there will be strong demand for good vocational skills for years to come.

But, this institution must not be part of DCPS (they already have full plates) or UDC (their track record is spotty at best). And, it needs to be run by an organization with a real track record of accomplishment in this field - this is no time to learn-on-the-job.

Comment by Jessica Golloher on June 10, 2008 at 3:18pm: Interesting points. Many local officials are saying that the District definitely needs a community college considering so many people need better education. And, what role should the embattled UDC play? Its president says the university should be a part of the school...a feeder if you will.

Comment by Dick Gill on June 10, 2008 at 3:44pm: I heard that, but it's apples and oranges.

The UDC president wants a remedial school to teach DCPS students what the should already learned before graduation so that UDC will have more qualified freshmen. If UDC were to start such a program, that would be great.

The issue at hand, however, creating a really good Vocational school that can take DCPS graduates and make them employable by teaching them the vocational skills that are in high demand.

Comment by Jessica Golloher on June 10, 2008 at 3:55pm: I think some would argue that residents need more than a vocational school. There are high schools that try to do that in the District. Why not a community college that teaches both skills and smarts. At least that way students could go on to a four year college or learn skills then enter the workforce