News You Need to Know: Daily Roundup, Tues., Oct. 17th

Percentage of Part-Time Faculty Affects Completion Rates at Community Colleges

A new study by Dan Jacoby from the University of Washington has found that community colleges with the highest proportion of full-time faculty have the highest program completion rates. Jacoby analyzed program completion rates instead of graduation rates, because many community college students do not seek degrees. At colleges with approximately 80 percent part-time faculty employment, students completed their programs of study at a rate of only 20%. As the number of full-time faculty increased, completion rates rose. Jacobys paper is forthcoming in the Journal of Higher Education.

Community College Trustees Discuss Gender and Ethnic Achievement Gaps

At the annual meeting of the Association of Community College Trustees, community-college trustees and presidents expressed concerns about poor academic performance and achievement gaps along gender and ethnic lines. Achievement gaps at community colleges have been growing between white and minority students and between female and male students. One panel discussed the challenge of and lack of research on recruitment and retention of male minority students, particularly Hispanics. U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings spoke at the meeting and outlined her goal of creating a "unit record" data system that would allow for better tracking of community college students outcomes. What has ACCT proposed to do about the problem? Higher Ed Watch is still waiting for an answer.

Parents Not Saving Enough for College, Hoping for Scholarships

A new survey has reiterated that parents can do more to save for the college education of their children, regardless of income. An investment company that develops state college savings plans, Alliance Bernstein, commissioned the survey of parents with pre-college children and household incomes of at least $50,000. The study confirmed previous reports that parents are not saving anywhere close to enough for their childrens college educations. According to the new study, 72% of parents believe that their children will receive scholarships to attend college, thus lowering the amount they need to save.