TITLE
Recommendation to request City Manager to work with
Long Beach City College (LBCC), the
Long Beach Department of Economic Development, Pacific Gateway Workforce Investment Network (PGWIN), and
North Long Beach higher
education experts and advocates to explore the feasibility of establishing a higher
education center in
North Long Beach.
DISCUSSION
Community colleges are a key contributor to the diversity of higher
education and an improved economy. Representing over 8 million students nationwide, community colleges are primary institutions for workforce development and an affordable, accessible gateway to baccalaureate degrees. The
Long Beach College Promise illustrates what an alignment of
educational institutions, businesses, and local governments can do to support access to
education and local economic development. Though cost and preparation are common barriers to
educational attainment, proximity also reinforces inequality within higher
education.
The Problem
Over the past decade, studies have assessed linkages between distance and
education, indicating that proximity affects a student's institution of choice, their probability to study, and
educational attainment. A 2009 publication affirms that geographic location is an important factor in determining where, and often whether, a high school senior goes onto college; most commonly being the case for first-generation and low-income students.' Therefore, the odds of applying to college are increased the closer an institution is located.
In addition to enrollment, distance places a strain on performance and
educational attainment, negatively affecting students of color and those who work while in school, Today, approximately 40% of first-time freshmen are enrolled in community colleges across the country. However, of those first-time enrollees, it will take up to 6 years for at least 30% of the low-income, first-generation students to complete their Associate's degree. ii For these demographics,...
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