留学动态

　　美国的所谓“Community College”，亦即“社区学院”或“社区大学”，或可称为“两年制大学”（以下统称为“社区学院”）。学生在社区学院两年毕业后，学校会颁发副学士学位（Associate Degree）予学生。如果学生想继续深造进修，也可以转读四年制大学，直接申请报读大三的课程，继续后两年的大学课程，取得学士学位。

　　美国社区学院具有实用性、灵活性、经济性和前瞻性等特点，它已发展一百多年仍方兴未艾。如今，社区学院已被誉为美国通往未来的动力。近一个世纪以来，美国社区学院体系对美国的教育与生活产生了巨大的影响。社区学院的兴起要归功于诸多因素。然而，最重要的在于社区学院为大众需要服务，开设多样化的课程，将高等教育的大门向社会的各个方面开放，使每一个进入社区学院学习的人都能够获益，因此，人们对美国的社区学院冠以 “人民学院” 的美称。

　　美国社区学院创建于1896年，由芝加哥大学校长W．R．哈珀首先创办，距今已有110年的历史。目前，社区学院不但已经形成了自身的特点，而且在美国的教育体系中占据了非常重要的地位。 自美国教育部的国家美国教育中心National Center for Education Statistics in the Department of Education（NCES）和美国社区学院联盟(AACC)的最新统计：目前美国全国共有1166家社区学院。

　　美国的社区学院有公立和私立之分，公立学院占绝大部分约85%左右。每所社区学院都带有它所服务的地区的文化及地理特性，同时它们又具有许多共同点。大多数社区学院提供三种类型的课程：语言培训ESL课程、学士转学课程、生计教育(即职业技术教育)及社区服务。后者包括成人继续教育和工商业的培训与再培训。

   ? 美国公立的社区学院是被美国各州认可的高等教育机构，社区学院颁发的最高级学位是学士学位。除了二年制文科副学士、理科副学士和应用科学副学士学位以外，还颁发一年制的培训证书。社区学院的财政支持主要来自于政府的公共税收，学院主要招收走读学生， 有的学院也招收海外学生。

   ? 目前，美国在校生达1100多万，占美国大学生总数的44％，而社区学院的新生占美国大学新生总数的50％。由于实行开放式入学，社区为许多在其他学校无法继续学业的学生提供了受教育的机会。大学中少数民族学生总数的47％就读于社区学院，学分制学生和非学分制学生几乎1：1；63％为兼职学生， 37％为全职学生。每个学生平均每年的学杂费为1518美元。

　　因此，愈来愈多海外学生申请美国社区学院，视社区学院为进入四年制大学拿学位的重要跳板。另外，社区学院两年的课程，目的主要也是为学生扎好根基，让他们以后在专业领域上有更进一步的成就。
根据加州社区学院Pocket file 2002（California Community Colleges Pocket Profile 2002）的资料显示，由社区学院成功转读至美国大学的人数资料如下（1999~2000）：

　　资料来源：California Community Colleges Pocket Profile 2002

社区学院的办学宗旨包括以下几方面内容：
(1) 为所有学生提供就学机会，实行开放式入学政策；
(2) 提供综合教育方案；
(3) 组织教学；
(4) 提供终身学习条件；
(5) 作为立足于社区的教育机构为社区提供服务；
(6) 为工商业进行劳动力培训和再培训；
(7) 为社区的全体成员服务。

社区学院的使命包括五个组成部分：

• 转学教育
• 职业教育
• 一般教育
• 补偿教育
• 社区教育。

　　--转学教育提供大学学士学位的首两年课程，大学承认社区学院的学分，能成功地转入公立或私立的四年制大学，同时还提供其他选读课程。很多著名大学非常欢迎社区学院的转学生， 来自社区学院的学生占50%以上。
大学转读课程是专门为希望在四年制大学继续进修的学生而设计的课程，学生可以在社区学院修读大学前两年的通识课程，所修的学分也会被四年制大学承认。部分社区学院，会与某些大学之间有协议，社区学院所修读的学分可转至大学。因此，只要你在社区学院的成绩达到规定的标准水平，即可直接转读四年制大学的第三年课程。不过，你当然亦可以选择申请转读当地的其他大学，或其他洲的大学。除此之外，社区学院里通常都设有顾问及转读中心（Transfer Center），可以在转读课程安排上，为学生提供意见和帮助。

　　--职业教育提供职业技术培训课程，? 目的是通过职业技术培训课程赶上日新月异的技术发展和国际竞争。现在很多职业技术培训课程已经成为四年制大学课程。因此，开设的课程包罗万象，某些社区学院甚至开设了上千种的职业课程。另外，社区学院通常都会与当地的工商业界建立良好的关系，所以有时候学校也会邀请公司企业的主管或专业人员前来讲课，与学生分享实际经验及各行业的最新信息。

　　一般教育的项目常常被认为是学生们为了其他方面的一个中转站。一般教育被认为是发展一个多元知识基础的框架，如：学会批评性的思维、发展价值观、理解传统、尊重各种文化与观点，一般教育项目能有效地利用知识。

　　--补偿教育是为那些由于某种原因，成人和青年尚未获得工作所需的教育，或未能发挥其潜能以获得较佳报酬的工作，而进行的教育。

　　--社区教育。社区学院中的社区教育包含了很宽泛的多种活动，包括成人教育、继续教育、合同培训以及社区服务。这些课程可以是学分的或者是非学分的，主要看是为了学习工作技能还是为了个人的兴趣，可以是一个小时的讲座，也可以是一个学期的课程，可以在社区学院内上课，也可以在社区学院之外上课。

　　在美国如果没有社区学院，恐怕很多人就永远没有进大学的机会，就不可能实现公开入学机会和公平就学。美国社区学院对终身学习的承诺包括了提供学分的和非学分的课程、活动以及计划等，通过这一切来丰富社区学院所服务社区(地区)的人民的学习需求和生活。

美国社区学院为美国的发展和今天的成就做出了巨大贡献！

社区学院的历史

　　现今社区学院可以成为学生转读大学的快捷方式，但其实学院内亦举办不少职业培训课程，而且以前学生大多以女性为主。追溯社区学院的源起，亦要从百年前的美国历史说起……

　　早于100多年前（1901年），位于伊利诺洲（Illinois）的Joliet Junior College正式成立，当时的学院只集中于文理学科（General Liberal Arts）的课程，但随着20世纪30年代的经济大衰退（The Depression），世界的经济一度陷入恐慌。社区学院提供的职业培训课程，便是为了舒缓当时失业问题。

　　二次世界大战结束，不少军事工业纷纷转型，退役军人回到国家，亦要学习新技能。军事工业不得不改弦易辙，生产不同消费品的工厂便如雨后春笋，技工的需求因而激增，加上1944年退伍军人议案（The Gl Bill）的通过，鼓励二次大战后的军人重返校园，让他们在学院得到教育及在职培训的机会，促使更多职业培训的课程冒起。另外，由于学校的数目每年递增，教师需求亦随之增加，造成不少社区学院提供教师课程，吸引女学生前来报读成为教师。加上战后婴儿出生潮（baby boom）的爆发，更令入学的比率急升。直至目前为止，已有超过一半持有大学学位的毕业生是经由社区学院转读大学。

　　1996－1997学年期间，约930万名学生在社区学院修读学分课程。其余500万名学生则修读职业培训课程，大多不具学分。从1901年起，已有超过1亿名学生曾修读社区学院。

　　社区学院的共通点，在于其开放式入学条件及低廉的学费，但由于每间社区学院是独立运作，故有其自己一套校训及宗旨。今天，社区学院的地位不但仍然屹立不倒，成为提供多元化选择的学术机构，其“2+2”的跳板亦可让学生另辟蹊径，晋身大学之途。

社区学院大事回顾

Community Colleges are centers of educational opportunity. More than 100 years ago, this unique, American invention put publicly funded higher education at close-to-home facilities and initiated a practice of welcoming all who desire to learn, regardless of wealth, heritage or previous academic experience. Today, the community college continues the process of making higher education available to a maximum number of people at 1,166 public and independent community colleges.

More than half of the world's young people - some 850 million between the ages of 10 and 24 - live in Asia and the Pacific. 1 This 'youth bulge,' coupled with a fast-growing export-based economy, is changing the social landscape in the region. Young populations are not only pressing to expand education and health programs, but also to secure jobs that provide upward mobility.

For young people everywhere, 1"a good job is not just a source of income, but also provides economic standing, self-esteem, social status and social capital". 2 Young Asians are looking for the kinds of jobs that offer professional growth potential. And education is vital for accessing choice employment. Today's labor market seeks young people with practical experience, appropriate skills, and knowledge of foreign languages.

Keenly aware of the situation, many Asian institutions of higher education are implementing innovative educational policy reforms to meet the needs of growing student populations and also the labor market's demands. The unique concept of community colleges is an apt model for societies in transition: It efficiently imparts knowledge; upgrades skills in small, student centered classroom environments; is suitable for students of diverse achievement levels; and is low-cost. The notion is taking root in many parts of the world.

We have worked diligently to introduce and clarify the community college concept in Asia. Initially, 'translating' the 2 + 2 notion was challenging: Asian students associated a US two-year college with their local, less prestigious two-year 'vocational' training school. Over the years, we have focused on making the US community college concept clear to audiences of high-school students as well as their parents, teachers, and counselors.

As the community college concept becomes better understood in the region, young people realize that a US college degree is no longer accessible only to their countries' elites. The "2 + 2" model offers - thousands of middle-class students in Asia and elsewhere - the possibility to secure a US college degree from well-known schools at accessible prices. However, cost is not the only thing that attracts foreign students to community colleges. Two-year colleges offer a safety net - especially important to shy, diffident newcomers - as they adjust to a new culture and a new academic environment. Also, smaller classes allow instructors to provide greater attention to students, and this helps young people assimilate the English language and other subject matters faster. Finally, a smaller college provides more networking opportunities and a good quality of life. In two years, students earn a community college associate degree and, thanks to effective articulation, can transfer to a university to earn, in two additional years, a sought-after bachelor's degree.

Today, Korea, Hong Kong, and Vietnam are among the top 20 leading countries, which send high-school students to US two-year colleges. This improved understanding of the community college concept and its benefits, along with better US visa-approval rates, are persuading Asian students that this is an excellent way to secure a quality two- or four-year education. We also work with member colleges and understand s that each institution's international initiatives may be at a different level of development. It provides guidance, pre-travel orientation, and assists colleges in framing their presentations overseas in a way that audiences unfamiliar with the US community college concept and culture can understand their message.

In this environment, it is no surprise that its Asia experience has been very good. For many years, we have been partnering with peer institutions at home and abroad, and, working as a team, we have been reaching out to high school students overseas, their parents, and high-school teachers. People are listening.

Encouraged by this overwhelming support, we are returning to Asia in October 2006. It will not only conduct student-recruitment fairs in major capitals, but will also explore new, emerging markets and secondary cities. At the same time, it has teamed up with the International Institute for Education in Hong Kong, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, and with the Fulbright Commission in Seoul. It and its local partners are an extraordinary, multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural group of people working together to promote a better understanding of the benefits offered by US community colleges.

Its International Program is currently recruiting college representatives to be part of this year's delegation to Asia. We are offering attractive discounts for those registering early. It is promoting the significance of global education on US campuses, and we are convinced that this initiative will be as successful at home as it has been overseas. The time to build bridges is here.

Maybe you want the very best education available. Maybe you want to put your career on the fast track by perfecting your English and working with top professionals in your field. Whatever your reasons, one thing is clear – your next step is to come to the U.S.A., which will help you achieve your goals and have fun!

You have read about the U.S.A. every day in the news, watched Hollywood films, listened to U.S. songs and music videos and talked to people from the U.S.A. Only by living in the U.S.A. can you truly become fluent in English and gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of U.S. culture.

Life in the U.S.A. will probably be different from what you expect. You may be pleasantly surprised to find that the images from films and television programs are not always true. That is, Americans come in a variety of sizes, colors and shapes. Americans in general are very friendly and will be interested in learning about you and your country.
For any international student, the U.S.A. has a lot to offer: the most prestigious, top ranked education anywhere in the world, eclectic cities and beautiful natural parks, artistic, cultural, political and athletic events, and a very multicultural population.

Diversity

The land and people of the U.S.A. are incredibly varied. Wherever you choose to study, you will encounter a regional culture rich in history, local traditions and customs. The U.S.A. is a multi-racial society that is still absorbing new immigrants, which makes it a very dynamic and exciting place to experience. While students must exercise caution in a few locations, in much of the U.S.A., streets and university campuses are clean and safe.

Differences

U.S. universities may differ from those in your own country in several ways. For one thing, classes are generally small. There may be as few as ten to twenty students in a class; an education in the U.S. A. gives you the personal attention you need in order to succeed. While in class, students are encouraged and expected to contribute to the discussion. Professors meet with students in their offices or even share coffee or meals with them. The close relationship between students and faculty serves to motivate students and fosters a personal approach to the curriculum. Studying in the U.S.A. gives you the opportunity to gain a mentor in your given career field, an invaluable resource.
You may be surprised at your professors’ willingness to challenge authority. Academic freedom is one of the hallmarks of a U.S. university. You will notice different perspectives on instruction. In the U.S.A., students are trained to observe and analyze a problem, then solve it. You will be expected to listen to your classmates and challenge their points of view. The goal is pragmatic, so that you will gain confidence and the ability to organize and present an argument.
Most U.S. university students live on or near the school campus. When you are studying in the U.S.A., you will have many opportunities to join planned and informal activities with other students, such as hiking, skiing, museum visits, excursions to new cities, and U.S.A. tourist attractions. Imagine visiting New York and taking a ferry to the Statue of Liberty! This interaction with other students will enhance your language skills. Your fellow students will also teach you about U.S. culture and about the diverse cultures represented on any U.S. campus.

The Leading Edge

While studying in the U.S.A., you will be exposed to some of the most up-to-date developments in technology. The U.S.A. is the leader in many areas of technology. You may be fortunate enough to meet, and even study, with the leading scholars in your chosen field. Why not study with the best?

Studying in the U.S.A. will exhilarate you. It will change the landscape of your life permanently. We guarantee that you will return home changed: more confident, more open and knowledgeable, a citizen of the world with a much broader perspective!

Study in the U.S.A. can help you to embark on this exciting academic voyage, and to make the next decision—where to study.