Los Angeles community colleges have transformed over the years and now play a vital and high functioning role in our society. Colleges always bring local areas business and extra services; students form a spending and hiring base that businesses thrive on.
Like most schools, community colleges focus efforts to benefit their students before the community, yet the services are offered to a much larger variety of students than other colleges and the students are often people who come from the surrounding community.
"We are the people's college,' to quote Assemblyman Warren Furutani," said Valley President Sue Carleo. "Because we recognize our community's educational needs, we are able to make a difference in the lives of our area residents. While many go on to other colleges after they leave Valley, our work has helped pave the way for their future success."
When these colleges grow in size and population, like Valley has over the years, funding received for new buildings and services can also be shared with the community. An article posted on Allbusiness.com stated that seven of the top ten cities with the lowest unemployment rates in the country are college towns.
When Valley was founded on Sept. 12, 1949, the need for such an institution was quickly realized during the boom in the San Fernando Valley during the 1940s. On opening day the first enrollment totaled 439 students, by 1952 the fall enrollment was up to 2,300 students. Over the years numbers kept growing, exceeding 17,000 students, and 2009 had a reported 1,000 student increase during this fall semester.
Transferring is an important factor for recent high school grads, yet many community college student ages range beyond the standard 18- to 24-years-old. The Foundation for Community Colleges stated that 70 percent of California's new registered nurses and 80 percent of the firefighters, law enforcement officers, and emergency technician specialists graduated from schools like Valley.
These colleges set a new standard of accessibility to higher education. Undergraduates attending community colleges from 1989 to 1999 grew from 39 to 41 percent, as reported by American Council on Education. Today the low cost tuition and college transferable classes offered at these institutions are the economically smarter choice for high school graduates, which creates another boom in attendance.
According to Student Right-To-Know, Valley ranks third highest among the Los Angeles Community College District in the number of students who transfer to UC and CSUs.
Also, in recent years Valley has been helped by ballot initiatives to "further improve college facilities." This funding has let the school put $286 million into renovating and building more energy efficient buildings using Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, updating the campus for students, and being an example of change in the community.
The college has come a long way since it's opening day when the campus was made up of five bungalows as described in "Valley History." Community colleges have stood the test of time and proven to produce results and benefits for those who attend and the communities surrounding them.
is a member of the 
1 comments Log in to Comment
You must be logged in to comment on an article. Not already a member? Register now