Experts are warning that the increase in numbers could also see academic levels and standards fall. Talking of LaGuardia, the New York Times stated, “a college under stress… Classes now begin as early as 6:45 a.m. The line for the 170 computer work stations in the library can snake around the stacks at lunch time, and the wait sometimes stretches to 45 minutes.”

Over the past academic year, the number of admissions to many US community colleges have soared, by up to 50% at some institutions. For many, community colleges offer an affordable higher education, – which in the midst of recession, redundancies and increased competition for jobs – is an attractive option. Patrick M Callan, President of the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education said: “Most people would agree that this is not a good time in terms of the economic competitiveness of the country to be turning people away…The community college is a second-chance institution for the country.”

The New York Times explained how the “battered economy drove many workers back to school to retool their skills, while others have eschewed a four-year degree in favour of a more affordable two-year programme”.

In previous years, New York’s six community colleges – all part of The City University of New York, accepted applications up until late August and September, however this year: LaGuardia Community College stopped accepting applications in July, the Borough of Manhattan Community College in June and Queensborough Community College in early August.

To read the full report in the New York Times, click here.

The initiative led by Bloomberg and named ‘the gateway to middle-class’ supports President Obama’s plans to boost the popularity of community colleges in the United States. By 2010 President Obama wants five million American students to have graduated from community colleges across the country.

The report in the New York Times stated how Bloomberg’s funding would elevate the number of graduating students to 120,000 a year, a “43% increase over the 84,000 students that are currently expected to graduate by that time.”

“It’s going to be an exciting new era for our community colleges,” said Bloomberg. “We have some of the best community colleges in the country here in New York.”

Plans for a new community college in New York are currently under development. To date, New York City has six community colleges in The City University of New York (CUNY) network including Borough of Manahattan Community College, Bronx Community College and La Guardia Community College. The new development would see this figure rise to seven. “This will be the first new two year institute of higher education to be built in New York City in 37 years,” said Bloomberg.

To learn more, visit the CUNY Newswire website at: www1.cuny.edu/forum/?p=4221