Author Archives: mabera5

Major project 4:What is the motive behind community colleges beginning to provide student housing?

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Moving out of their parents’ house and leaving on campus is without a doubt one of the most exciting things about starting college. Students enroll in a 4-year college or community college after high school or while still in high school to pursue their further education and obtain a degree in order to enter their desired field of work. However, nowadays the prospect of having a great college experience and saving money has students keen on applying to community colleges, according to Parminder Jassal, an immigrant from India who earned her bachelor’s degree from a community college and her Ph.D. from a four-year university. Even though most community colleges were established to serve local students with affordable higher education, many community colleges are now increasingly providing on-campus housing to provide students with additional academic, social, and networking opportunities. Jassal described in her article “Community Colleges Dorms & Housing Accommodations: A Complete Guide” how Community colleges have evolved dramatically over the years, tailoring their college experience and offerings to the areas they serve, including how they now provide athletics, honor programs, student-centered activities, and, most crucially, dormitories!

Many people who enter college become preoccupied with having an authentic college experience. They imagine late nights spent poring over textbooks, engaging in classroom discussions, and even wild parties on the weekend. But the truth of the matter is that there is no one true college experience. Each college and each student is unique. But there are certain things about going to college that can enhance or detract student’s experience. One of them is on-campus housing. (Barrington)

On-campus housing is clearly crucial, not only for 4-year college campuses but also for community institutions. On-campus housing, in particular, is vital for America’s 553 rural-serving community college districts. Rural community college campuses that offer houses can provide convenience and possible savings to students whose circumstances enable them to reside on campus. In this day and age of high gasoline expenses, many rural-serving community college students may benefit from cost reductions by living on-campus. Furthermore, as the authors state in their research, institutions may possibly generate funds that may be used to expand the quantity and quality of services available to on-campus and commuting students(The Availability, Prospects, and Fiscal Potential of Rural Community College On-Campus Housing).

According to the study “Campus Accommodation in the Community College Setting: Benefits and Challenges for Residential Living,” demand for on-campus housing continues to rise at both two- and four-year colleges. Based on this article, the rising expense of higher education at a four-year university has prompted many students to pursue a less expensive path to a post-secondary degree through community college. Increased community college enrolment offers up the possibility of on-campus housing choices. On-campus housing alternatives are a means to both accommodate and advocate for community college students.

But over the last couple of years, having living accommodations at community college is slowly becoming more of the norm than the exception. This is in part due to the acknowledgment, at various levels of government, that at community colleges across the nation, the challenge for the students is not tuition, as it is already subsidized, but in fact, it is accommodation. An increasing number of students, unfortunately, have had to resort to couch surfing or living in their cars in the college parking lot. This situation has brought up heated debates among state lawmakers on whether community colleges should urgently provide provisional solutions such as free on-campus parking. As of right now, to circumnavigate draconian laws prohibiting community colleges from providing affordable housing, colleges are following a process administered through a local housing authority or a non-profit organization. (Jassal).

 

According to a recent poll conducted by the American Association of Community Colleges, about 25% of community colleges in the United States offer their students on-campus housing. This number has risen dramatically since 2000 and it continues to rise(Barrington).

Data shows that 64.2% of community college students are part-time students, 14% of students are enrolled exclusively online, and over 2 million community college students in the United States are parents of children under 18. This data suggests that a lot of students already have some sort of non-dorm housing figured out. And that makes sense since community colleges are built to be at the center of each community, usually at a reasonable commuting distance. With increasing income inequality, young students are struggling to find affordable housing.  “Our students are struggling; they need housing,” says Compton College president, Keith Curry. He believes that providing housing removes the obstacles that can prevent students from graduating(Jassal).

Additionally, the colleges may be able to maintain revenue that will allow them to expand the quantity and quality of services available to on-campus and commuting students. Beyond enhanced access and convenience, further research is needed to discover how particular community college students may benefit from housing choices. Research, particularly the studies reported by Pascarella and Terenzini (1991, 2005), has shown that living on a 4-year college or university campus has a positive impact on student learning and persistence. It intuitively follows that the same benefits would accrue to community college students who live on campus as well. However, at present, this is merely conjecture, because virtually no research has been conducted on the impact of on-campus housing on community college students.

Ultimately, whether attending a community college or a four-year institution, there are certain pros and cons to on-campus housing that students should consider. Some of them are as Barrington mention in her article are 

prons

  • Living on-campus is something of a safety net for many first-year students, helping them make the transition from living at home to living on their own.
  • On-campus housing options are usually available for double rooms which means that students get to form a bond with a roommate- some of these friendships can last a lifetime.
  • On-campus housing means that students are in the middle of the action at all times – they have easy access to campus activities, amenities, and services.

Cons

  • Campus housing can be more expensive than renting an apartment – according to College Data, the average annual cost of room and board at a four-year school was $10k in 2015. Room and board for community college range from $2.5k to $8k per year, in most cases.
  • Most on-campus housing solutions are limited in terms of space and students will probably have to share a room with someone else, not to mention a floor with many people.
  • Many residence halls have shared bathrooms – they might share with a few suite-mates or with an entire hall of students. Bathrooms are also sometimes shared between both sexes.

Work cited 

Barrington, Kate. “The Pros and Cons of On-Campus Housing for Community College | CommunityCollegeReview.Com.” Community College Review, www.communitycollegereview.com, 22 May 2020, https://www.communitycollegereview.com/blog/the-pros-and-cons-of-on-campus-housing-for-community-college.

“Community Colleges Dorms & Housing Accommodations: A Complete Guide – Unmuddle the Skills-to-Jobs Marketplace.” Community Colleges Dorms & Housing Accommodations: A Complete Guide – Unmudl the Skills-to-Jobs Marketplace, unmudl.com, 6 Oct. 2021, https://unmudl.com/blog/community-college-with-dorms.

“The Availability, Prospects, and Fiscal Potential of On-Campus Housing at R…: EBSCOhost.” The Availability, Prospects, and Fiscal Potential of On-Campus Housing at R…: EBSCOhost, web.a.ebscohost.com, https://web.s.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail/detail?vid=8&sid=72ba5abf-f793-46e6-b2b1-bb7960ccca5e%40redis&bdata=JkF1dGhUeXBlPWlwLHNoaWImc2l0ZT1laG9zdC1saXZlJnNjb3BlPXNpdGU%3d#db=eric&AN=EJ781134. Accessed 12 Apr. 2022.

Taylor, F., EdD., Buck, K., M.S.Ed, & Kane, T., M.S.Ed. (2019). Campus housing in the community college setting: Benefits and challenges for residential living. The Community College Enterprise, 25(2), 77-93.  https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/campus-housing-community-college-setting-benefits/docview/2343014491/se-2?accountid=11226

Vanderbilt University

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Meklit Abera 

Professor Weaver 

English 1102

March 10th, 2022

summary 

Vanderbilt University is a private research university in Nashville, Tennessee, founded in 1873 that was named after shipping and rail mogul Cornelius Vanderbilt.  It is a nationally and internationally known center for intellectual research, informed and innovative teaching, and service to the community and society. Since its founding in 1873 as an institution dedicated to “strengthening the relationships which should exist between all portions of our common country,” Vanderbilt University has maintained a tradition of academic accomplishment intertwined with a distinct culture of collaboration and collegiality.

Analysis 

Audience and Imagining ideal readers would greet a first-time visitor to the Vanderbilt University website. The university does not target a single audience, but rather a diverse group of students from various backgrounds who plan to attend this university. They have ideal readers in mind that they attempt to reach. Vanderbilts website captivates viewers by using the rhetorical style of logos to generate more interest in beneficial techniques to capture viewers and inspire them to think about the future decision they are going to make. This is the statement they use to welcome first-time viewers to their website “This is a community of learning dedicated to the fulfillment of human potential. This is Vanderbilt.”(Vanderbilt).

The use of intended readers as a rhetorical technique by Vanderbilt is a useful approach to structure the website in order to target the community they intended to recruit, which was mainly undergraduates, transfer students, and master’s students. The University is concerned with more than simply higher education; it also has a sporting facility and cutting-edge laboratories. They also allow students to seek specific clubs and activities that aid in the development of social skills that benefit the environment at both the institution and the wider community(Vanderbilt, about). This allows students to participate in school-based activities that benefit the environment and include the community. The Imagining Ideal Readers that the school seeks are students exploring various career options at the University, which includes ten schools and colleges covering everything from humanities to music to engineering.

The goal of Vanderbilt is to serve the local and worldwide communities as a center for academic research and informed creative education. With the same depth of soul and audacity of imagination. Its acceptance rate is 9.6 percent (Vanderbilt, admissions). This means that just 10 out of a hundred submissions are approved. This demonstrates that the institution is extremely selective. Vanderbilt does not utilize standardized tests or grade point average restrictions since they have a comprehensive admissions process. They examine all aspects of the application, not just academic profiles, to learn about the applicant’s passions, accomplishments, and interests, both academic and non-academic. Applicants can use Common App, QuestBridge, or the Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success to submit their applications, as long as they select the application system that is appropriate for them. While there are numerous aspects to consider while submitting a college application, candidates should focus on the following: GPA standards, SAT and ACT testing requirements, a personal essay, and a letter of recommendation. (Vanderbilt, admissions)

Transfer students, on the other hand, come to Vanderbilt from all around the United States and internationally. While their backgrounds differ, Vanderbilt transfers are united by a desire to take advantage of the many academic and co-curricular possibilities available at their new school. Our transfer students’ unique stories help to make the Vanderbilt community a vibrant and varied environment to learn and flourish(Vanderbilt, admissions).In terms of housing, Vanderbilt has With 30 residence halls, 18 dining places, more than 475 interest clubs, 35+ club and varsity teams, and the whole city of Nashville right in our backyard, Vanderbilt students have nearly unlimited chances to establish community, uncover their interests, and make a difference(Vanderbilt, campus life).

To enlighten, the author considers their ideal reader to be persuaded to join by allowing past and current students as well as faculty to describe their stay at the institution on the Academics page of the website, stating their contribution to many disciplines of their community, and by assuring their ideal student by emphasizing how much guidance and encouragement this university offer and will continue to provide to all students and can help them achieve their goals. The website  also offers a reference at the bottom of the page for the ideal reader to locate the university’s social media and interact with other students, as well as stay up to date on campus news

 

Response 

If the opportunity came, would I accept an offer to attend this university? Yes, anyone who wants to open a decent door for their future wouldn’t want to miss out on the chance to enroll in this university because it is dedicated to providing a clear professional path for its students while also going above and beyond in providing you with the opportunity to be challenged and succeed in your field. The institution is more prestigious than most other universities in the South in terms of history and academic standing. Having a Vanderbilt degree can seem great on resumes when you need to display your qualifications when searching for a job. On the other hand, being social is an important aspect of student life, and Vanderbilt is a diverse campus with many opportunities to engage! Last but not least, Vanderbilt has a great reputation.

 

work cited

“Vanderbilt University.” Vanderbilt University, 2019, www.vanderbilt.edu/.

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Academic self of pax zezter

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An interview with my classmate turned out to be a valuable learning experience. I learned a lot from him throughout our phone interview, as he answered my questions about his academic achievements and his plans. Let me introduce you to Pax Zezter, a 39-year-old nutrition major who is presently in his second semester at Georgia State University.

Pax grew up in Michigan and graduated high school in 2000 and attended Western Michigan University for the fall semester, but struggled to adjust to college life and had to return home, where he attended community colleges in various cities before receiving his general associate’s degree in 2011 from Portland Community College. He struggled with dyslexia as a child, which had a significant influence on his education. When Pax was 20 years old, he went to the Michigan Association for Dyslexia and was able to overcome it.

I found it impressive to overcome all of this and continue to push himself to accomplish more. Most individuals his age wouldn’t consider starting a new job, let alone a new degree that leads to a new profession, so I asked what his greatest motivation was. His reply was that even though he switched majors from time to time, he is still chasing his dreams, with flexibility being his best strength and his fiancée Rachel as his strongest motivation, seeing her face her challenges encourage him to accomplish more. I’d like to use this moment to congratulate him on his upcoming wedding in May.

 

But Pax also has other specialties besides school. He loves cooking and is so passionate about it. He used to bake with his grandmother when he was a kid, and she was the one that taught him the work ethic, but in 2011, Pax used his cooking skills to make his own money, and he ended up loving it. He had worked in the restaurant industry for ten years, but he wanted to learn more about the kitchen from the front of the house to get a more complete picture. In 2013, he graduated from the culinary institute with a baking and pastry diploma, and in 2016, he returned to acquire his associate’s degree in culinary art management. In all of this, he considers his greatest professional achievement to be working in James Beard’s award-winning kitchen.

 

Pax at Oregon culinary institute picture credit Amy ogle, March 2016

After returning to school after all this time, he found the tuition to be one of the most frustrating things, and I strongly agree with him. But in terms of his three academic words, determined, creative, and courageous, all of which I also believe are great fits for him. He said, “Because I’m an older student, I’m determined”. He acquired greater confidence in his ability to accomplish more as he grew older, battling his weakness, like every one of us, and uses therapy as his weapon, which I believe we all need right now. Pax wants to get a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and work with people who have type 2 diabetes. If he could provide one piece of advice to his younger self, he would tell him that “if you wanna do it, do it. You just can’t do it on your own”.

Following my interview with Pax, I am optimistic that, given his past, he will be able to achieve whatever he desires, and I have also learned the importance of planning ahead, of viewing life as a series of stages, each of which must be driven by a specific goal and revolve around the achievement of that goal. The interview prompted me to consider my own career aspirations and desires.