PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 9, 2003
Contact: Norma Kent, AACC
202/728-0200, ext. 209
Susan Chilcott, AASCU
202/293-7070

IMPROVED COLLEGE ACCESS GOAL OF NATIONAL INITIATIVE
State Colleges/Universities, Community Colleges Seek Clear Path to Bachelor’s Degree

Washington, D.C. – Two national associations representing the majority of U.S. public colleges and close to 10 million students are now partnering to help more students continue their higher education and earn a bachelor’s degree.

Association leaders assert that while a college degree is widely deemed essential to career and financial success in today’s high-skill society, major barriers exist that block many students from attending or continuing in college. Working together and with their more than 1,500 member colleges, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) will identify non-financial barriers at state, system, and institutional levels; pinpoint ways to eliminate them; and work with institutions and policy makers to urge new solutions. The 18-month “Access to the Baccalaureate” project is underwritten by a $305,000 grant from the Lumina Foundation.

Already known impediments for students transitioning from two-year to four-year institutions include such barriers as lack of common course numbering and language to describe courses with similar content. The result is that students may take courses at community college, then find they must take virtually the same course when they transfer to a four-year institution, adding time and cost to completing a bachelor’s degree. Some states such as Florida and Colorado have mandated common course numbering at public colleges. Other barriers range from inadequate communication about changing requirements between two- and four-year colleges to lack of student support services to help transferring students adapt to a university environment.

“We know some of the problems that exist,” said AACC President George R. Boggs. “Many two-year and four-year colleges are already working together to establish articulation agreements and other strategies that will allow students to transfer more easily. But to date there has been no concerted national collaboration between the two largest sectors of public higher education.”

The AACC/AASCU initiative will launch with a May 14-16 invitational conference in Washington, D.C. Close to 100 educators representing colleges nation-wide will meet at the Hilton Arlington & Towers, 950 North Stafford, Arlington, Va., for the three-day event. The group will formulate specific recommendations to improve access and collaboration, then implement a vigorous outreach program to engage institutions, state systems, and policy makers.

“We see this initiative as a significant opportunity for our two associations, working collaboratively with our members, to influence policies and practices nation-wide that facilitate student access to the baccalaureate degree,” said Constantine W. (Deno) Curris, president of AASCU.

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The American Association of Community Colleges represents more than 1,100 regionally accredited community, junior, and technical colleges and their 10.6 million students. Community colleges enroll almost half (45 percent) of all U.S. undergraduates.

The American Association of State Colleges and Universities represents more than 430 public colleges, universities and systems of higher education throughout the U.S. and its territories.

The Lumina Foundation for Education, a private, independent foundation, strives to help people achieve their potential by expanding access and success in education beyond high school. Through research, grants for innovative programs and communication initiatives, Lumina Foundation addresses issues surrounding access and educational retention and degree or certificate attainment – particularly among under served student groups, including adult learners.

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