Transfer to a four-year institution is a benchmark for success among community colleges, but the numbers are low and disparities across the system persist, especially between colleges in rural areas and those in wealthy suburbs.
Adam Echelman
CalMatters
Community colleges reporter for CalMatters in partnership with Open Campus.
Posted inCalifornia
Who is a first-generation college student? California colleges, universities can’t agree.
Many California colleges and universities define “first-generation college student” differently, creating a confusing situation for students to navigate.
Posted inCalifornia
One group of students fled community college in record numbers during the pandemic. Can these schools lure them back?
Community colleges saw record declines in enrollment during the pandemic, but students 50 years and older fell the farthest. Now, some colleges are trying to reel them back in.
Posted inCalifornia
‘Everybody assumes that it’s like the rest of California and it’s not’: Rural LGBTQ students and administrators describe campus strife.
In rural and conservative-leaning towns and cities across California, LGBTQ+ student groups are small in number and face homophobic and transphobic incidents on and off campus. Some help is on the way.
Posted inCalifornia
Potential budget cut puts community college students at risk by further delaying building maintenance
Proposed budget cuts stemming from California’s budget deficit mean community colleges may be unable to do things like improve AC, heating, safety upgrades or follow through on promises about major programs and infrastructure projects.
Posted inCalifornia
California inmates depended on community colleges. What happens when their prisons close?
Newsom is closing and downsizing prisons across the state, putting the future of over a thousand incarcerated students at risk. College administrators say they have few resources to help.
Posted inCalifornia
Community colleges had a deadline to serve struggling students. Did they hit it?
With thousands of homeless and food insecure students, state legislators funded new programs to offer support to community colleges. CalMatters asked each college how it’s going.
Posted inCalifornia
Legislators step in as trust erodes between community colleges, California State University
More than a year of mudslinging between the higher education systems has led to delays and anger over the issue of awarding bachelor’s degrees at community colleges. Legislators, frustrated by the lack of progress, are getting involved.
Posted inCalifornia
Thousands of Californians are missing out on federal student aid. Here’s why
Many college students rely on federal student aid to cover expenses, but increasingly complicated laws and poor communication have made those dollars harder to come by for some adult students.