ERIC EdInfo: International Programs and Services at Community Colleges

International Programs and Services at Community Colleges

EdInfo 2002-06
August, 2002
ERIC Clearinghouse for Community Colleges

In 2000, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) conducted a survey of community colleges regarding their involvement in international programs and services. The survey was sent to 1,171 community colleges across the nation; 307 colleges responded (26%). Though colleges from each geographic region responded to the survey, institutions in suburban areas and midsize cities responded at a slightly greater rate than colleges in small towns and rural areas. Survey respondents answered 24 questions about curriculum, partnerships, opportunities for travel and study abroad, multicultural events on campus, faculty and student exchanges, and structural and financial support for international programs. Highlighted here are results of the 2000 survey as they relate to the results from a similar AACC survey conducted in 1995.

Serving International Students

The Institute of International Education reports that the number of international students enrolled at U.S. community colleges grew by 32 percent from 1994 to 1999.
12 percent of community colleges offer courses via the Internet specifically to serve students in other nations, a 50 percent increase since 1995.

Internationalizing the Curriculum

Community colleges with international components in their courses increased from 40 percent in 1995 to 82 percent in 2000.
60 percent of community colleges reported having international business programs, compared with 23 percent in 1995.
Almost 90 percent of the institutions reported offering a foreign language, an increase of nearly 25 percent since 1995.
English as a Second Language (ESL) is offered by 82 percent of community colleges, nearly a 20 percent increase since 1995.

Increasing Global Awareness

Institutions sponsoring activities to promote global awareness on campus and in the community increased from 43 percent in 1995 to 83 percent in 2000.

78 percent of responding community colleges provide study abroad opportunities to their students and faculty, nearly a 30 percent increase since 1995.

This information was reported in ED457878, "International Programs at Community Colleges. AACC Research Brief" by Donna Blair, Lisa Phinney, and Kent A. Phillippe. A full-text copy of this document may be obtained by contacting ERIC Document Reproduction Services (EDRS), 7420 Fullerton Road, Suite 110, Springfield, VA 22153-2852; or by calling (800) 443-ERIC. This project has been funded at least in part with Federal funds from the U.S. Department of Education under contract number ED-99-CO-0010. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Education nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. ERIC EdInfos are in the public domain and may be freely reproduced.

A full-text copy of this document may be obtained by contacting ERIC Document Reproduction Services (EDRS), 7420 Fullerton Road, Suite 110, Springfield, VA 22153-2852; or by calling (800) 443-ERIC. This project has been funded at least in part with Federal funds from the U.S. Department of Education under contract number ED-99-CO-0010. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Education nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. ERIC EdInfos are in the public domain and may be freely reproduced.

To receive free paper copies of ERIC EdInfos, send an email message to the Clearinghouse at ericcc@ucla.edu, call us at (800) 832-8256, or write to us at: ERIC Clearinghouse for Community Colleges. 3051 Moore Hall, Box 951521. University of California, Los Angeles. Los Angeles, CA 90095-1521