Date: 7/30/2020
Many thanks to Payton North for extolling the benefits of community college as a viable higher education choice in the article Community College: a quality education for a fraction of the price, July 16-22, 20202 in The Reminder. As a college professor at Asnuntuck Community College, just over the border in Enfield, Connecticut, I was overjoyed to see Payton’s column citing her experience and the value of the education she received at Holyoke Community College, followed by her successful years at Western New England University.
Especially now during all of the changes that are occurring to fall semester at nearly all colleges, due to the pandemic, community colleges make so much sense. They are affordable, with outstanding instructors who strive to individualize and personalize the curriculum because teaching is not only their passion but their main focus. Courses transfer into four year colleges and the colleges in Western Mass have worked well with Asnuntuck to ensure students are not taking extra, unnecessary courses. A few years ago, what began as a conversation with Elms College, resulted in a partnership where they offer a Bachelor’s completion program at Asnuntuck, specifically designed for community college grads. Even after graduating with their Associate degree from Asnuntuck, though students were well prepared as evidenced by their high GPAs and maturity, some did not want to leave our college. Thanks to Elms, they no longer have to! Many graduate in May from Asnuntuck and start in August with Elms, one hallway away from where they first entered as community college students two years before.
Community colleges have much to offer at an affordable price. They are the right fit for students not quite ready for the larger college experience. They graduate students to careers or two more years of college-most without loans and with a solid foundation from which to draw from in the workplace and the university classroom. They are often referred to as the place where Tom Hanks, Walt Disney, Aaron Rodgers, Queen Latifa, and Jackie Robinson, among others began their higher ed journeys. At Asnuntuck this summer, we have students who have returned home from ivy league schools, taking classes with us. Children of senators, representatives, college presidents, and CEOs have graduated from Asnuntuck. What do they know that others do not?
I join with Payton in dispelling the myths that community colleges are less than. Talk to graduates of two year colleges. Look at statistics of where they are now. Call and talk to professors and Admissions staff. We have a story to tell and it varies greatly from the stereotypes that incorrectly box in community colleges. Interactive, affordable, diverse, authentic, attentive…these are the qualities of courses at community colleges. I hope you will join us come fall. Massachusetts residents pay exactly what Connecticut residents pay for tuition at Asnuntuck Community College.
Carol LaLiberte, M.Ed
Enfield, CT.
