J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation Launch Public Education Program to Raise Awareness of the Need for High Quality, Affordable Community College Ed
DATELINE: BOISE, Idaho Oct. 11
BOISE, Idaho, Oct. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- The J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation announced today the launch of a public education program to raise awareness of the need for access to high-quality, affordable community college education in the Treasure Valley. The greater Boise-Nampa area, with nearly 700,000 people, is currently the largest urban center in the U.S. without a community college.
"For many people, community colleges provide a first -- and second -- chance," says the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation Executive Director, Lori Fisher. "With college costs increasing faster than the rate of inflation, community colleges are an affordable option for many individuals and families, or a valuable starting point before transferring to a four-year institution. Unfortunately, we are not coming close to meeting the need in the state of Idaho, let alone the Treasure Valley."
Double-digit growth places Idaho's Treasure Valley in the nation's top 10 metro areas for high growth. Idaho Department of Commerce and Labor Director Roger Madsen characterized this growth as "explosive." But with growth comes growing pains, and one of the challenges facing southwest Idaho communities is an urgent need for more education and training opportunities. In other states, this need is filled by community colleges -- the economic engines within growing communities.
"Absolutely every single inquiry from a business (large or small) or individual looking into Boise, asks about a community college in their first few questions," says James Grunke, Manager, Economic Development Policy at the Boise Valley Economic Partnership. "It does not matter the trade. It crosses every boundary -- retail, manufacturing, health care, call centers. Not having a local community college is a very limiting factor!"
In addition to being economic drivers, community colleges are known for identifying and quickly and efficiently addressing community, area, and business needs and for promoting opportunities for life-long learning. Having access to affordable, high-quality, comprehensive educational programs and training is critical to ensuring and enhancing the quality of life we enjoy in the valley.
Research shows that education pays. Students who complete associate degrees and certificates are more likely to move into higher-status management and professional positions with higher earnings. An investment of a few thousand dollars now will likely pay lifelong dividends, as students who earn associate degrees have average lifetime earnings of $250,000 to $400,000 more than people without degrees (AACC, National Profile of Community Colleges; Trends and Statistics, 3rd Ed.).
Statistics confirm potential students are being turned away from local colleges due to lack of affordable options, student unpreparedness, and lack of available classrooms, labs, or instructors. For example:
* Boise State University denied access to more than 800 students this
past fall and for the past four semesters.
* Treasure Valley Community College (TVCC) enrolled 800+ students in the
2005-06 academic year and could have served more if they had the space.
The J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation is among several groups looking for solutions to this problem. In order to do this, the Foundation first needed to understand where the need was greatest and most urgent. Today the Foundation will release its Gap Analysis report which is a step towards answering that question. The report summarizes findings from Treasure Valley needs assessments and Idaho occupation projections that were completed between the years 2000 and 2006 by a number of education institutions and business organizations.
The report and supporting documents are available online at http://www.communitycollegenow.org/ , a just released website hosted by the Foundation to support its public education program and to raise awareness of the need and the option to ensuring community college access in the Treasure Valley.
The Community College Now! website is a web-based resource which provides information about the benefits, needs, current statutes, legislation, articles and editorials related to community college in Idaho. In addition, information about community colleges in other states is also provided.
In 2005, the Foundation decided to focus its efforts on creating community college access in the Treasure Valley.
"The time has come for the Foundation to broaden its emphasis beyond K-12, because increasingly, the needs of employers and our ability to compete globally depend on our citizens having access to affordable postsecondary education," says Fisher. "The Foundation will continue to explore options to quickly and efficiently achieve our main goal of increasing access to high-quality, affordable, comprehensive community college education in the Treasure Valley. In addition, we will continue to work with others statewide to improve the opportunities for all Idaho citizens to have access to a community college education."
If you would like further information about Community College Now!, contact Stephanie Worrell at 208.484.9470 / sworrell@peyron.com . Or, visit http://www.communitycollegenow.org/ on the web.
About Community College Now -- Community College Now! is a public education program of the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation to raise awareness of the need to increase access to high quality, affordable community college education in the Treasure Valley.
About the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation -- The J.A. & Kathryn Albertson Foundation is a family foundation committed and striving to be a catalyst for positive educational change, reform and improvement in Idaho.
CONTACT: Stephanie Worrell, +1-208-484-9470, sworrell@peyron.com , for
J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation
Web site: http://www.communitycollegenow.org/
SOURCE J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation