On December 12, I had the privilege of representing Santa Barbara City College at a special luncheon in Washington, D.C. to recognize the nation’s top 10 finalists for the prestigious Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. This honor was validation of SBCC’s reputation in the state – and now the entire nation – as a premier community college committed to excellence and innovation.
At this luncheon, a number of distinguished speakers addressed the audience including Dr. Jill Biden, wife of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and a longtime educator, Arne Duncan, U.S. Department of Education Secretary, and Richard Riley, former U.S. Department of Education Secretary.
The messages were loud and clear. The community college system will be a key player in reviving the country’s economy and educating a workforce to meet the demand for the evolving and highly competitive jobs of the 21st century. By 2018, more than 60 percent of American jobs will require some type of post-secondary qualifications. For millions of Americans, nearly half of the entire country’s undergraduate student population, community colleges provide an essential pathway to well-paying jobs and transfer to four-year colleges and universities. With four-year colleges’ and universities’ tuitions escalating at over twice the rate of inflation, community colleges serve as the most affordable option in higher education.