Community or Junior Colleges

Community and junior colleges are unique to American education, and no form of higher education is more varied than these institutions, all of which must comply with the same array of laws as other postsecondary educational institutions whether dealing with students, faculty, or staff. According to the American Association of Community Colleges, nearly 1,200 two-year colleges serve an average of 11.5 million students annually. Their benefits are enormous: Each year, community colleges award some 555,000 associate degrees and 295,000 certificates; 59% of new nurses and the majority of other new health care workers are educated at community colleges; close to 80% of firefighters, law enforcement officers, and EMTs are credentialed at community colleges; 95% of businesses and organizations that employ community college graduates recommend community ...