Embracing Humanism Through Open Access at Community College Global Counterparts

• In Event: International Perspectives on Higher Education Admission Policy

Abstract

This paper will explore the open access policies of community college global counterparts. Community college global counterparts serve a large percentage of students in their respective countries. Community college global counterparts are known by different names, including junior college, technical college, polytechnics, college of further education, TAFE, and community college (Raby & Valeau, 2009). Despite the uniqueness of these institutions, there are commonalities that allow comparative study. Mostly, these institutions provide a combination of low cost academic and career programs along with basic skills development and a variety of life-long learning services to the community.

This presentation will focus on the open access policy because it provides opportunities for non-traditional students, in terms of age, gender, race/ethnicity, disability, and academic ability. In the context of humanistic change, the philosophy that maintains these institutions and the application of practice in the context of global economic constraints will be profiled. A comparative focus will be made in terms of who gets educated and who cannot as a key issue in a world that increasingly demands post-secondary skills. The re-imagined vision of education that is the focus of this conference is the ability of multiple higher educational institutions to serve new populations and provide a regenerative space for positive social change.

Author

• Rosalind Raby, University of Phoenix