CTCL E-News May 2008

TRANSFER STUDENTS ON THE RISE

More students are choosing community college as an option for starting their college experience. Enrollment growth in America's community colleges outpaced all other major postsecondary institutions, according to the Center for Policy Analysis at the American Council on Education (ACE). The reasons for this increase in students range from wanting to have more time to explore major and career options to needing to save money in order to complete a degree at a more costly four year college or university. Whatever the reason, most four year colleges are expanding options for transfer students and providing resources to make the process a smooth one.

Read about how Austin College works with students, from one of many colleges, to create a successful transition process: Transfer to Austin.

FUTURE SCIENTISTS AT CTCL COLLEGES

The College of Wooster, Hope College, Kalamazoo College and Whitman College were among a select group of liberal arts colleges who answered the call to "usher in a new era of science education" and were awarded one of the 2008 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Grants. The grants will help the colleges to continue to identify and educate future scientists and provide the facilities and research opportunities that will enable them to be successful. Click here for a description of the CTCL college grants.

AP CLASSES: EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGE OR JUST A TEST OF MEMORY

High School students are advised to take the most challenging courses offered to them in ordered to be prepared for college coursework. Common wisdom suggests taking Advanced Placement (AP) courses as challenging preparation, and yet recent criticism of the expansion of the program in many high schools across the country suggests that perhaps the courses fall short of expectations. A recent Los Angeles Times opinion-editorial written from a student point of view provides wisdom that follows CTCL advice to students: a true liberal arts experience provides the chance for critical and creative learning--not exercises in learning for the test: Bursting the AP Bubble.

CTCL KICKS OFF NATIONAL PROGRAMS WITH NORTHEAST TOUR IN MAY

CTCL will offer information sessions and college fairs around the country, beginning with stops in the northeast in May. For more information on events in your area, visit the CTCL programs web site.