This photo shows how money is being wasted when students drop out. (William Nacouzi)
According to a recent study, millions in state and federal funds are spent every year on community college students who drop out during their first year.
Over the last five years, almost $4 billion in federal, state, and local taxpayer funds went to community college freshmen who dropped out during or after their first year as discovered by the American Institutes for Research in a new study. The report entitled “The Hidden Costs of Community Colleges” nails California as the state with the highest amount of state and local expenditures, about $130 million, going to first-year community college dropouts.
“Far too many students who enter into community colleges leave their school without a degree or certificate,” says Mark Schneider, vice president of AIR and co-author of the report. “In fact, six years after enrolling, just about half of full-time community college students are no longer enrolled in any college or university and have not earned a certificate or students.”
ASSC Senator Etienne is not completely adverse to some of the changes proposed by the AIR report.
“I believe that in any institution or organization, there is always room for improvement,” Etienne said. “I think a lot of the propositions made by the AIR are very good and they could provide great results if they are well executed. However, that will not necessarily reduce the (monetary) cost of supporting community college