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COMMUNITY COLLEGES - Most recently, I was invited to Los Angeles Valley College, where President Dr. Barry Gibbons and Andrea Schmitt, Director of the LAVC Foundation, gave me a comprehensive presentation on the college's programs and activities. My visit also included a guided tour of the campus. It was here that my academic journey began in 1961, and the place that served as the foundation for my subsequent professional and civic pursuits.
For me it was more than a trip down memory lane, an opportunity to reminisce past occurrences and witness the tremendous progress at the campus. Indeed, it was more than nostalgia. Revisiting my past reminded me not only of myriad recollections but also of my pledged efforts, strict schedules, hard work and of my language barrier. As a foreign student I had arrived from Greece with the yearning to become an electrical engineer, but my limited knowledge of English created anxieties both with conversation and with the academic jargon.
I adored my resolute professors, and I even chose to forget my physics professor who asked me during my first semester what my major was. “Electrical engineering,” I replied. “You will never be an electrical engineer. You should consider studying an easier subject,” he had said. My inner compass, however, directed me to follow my goal.
My English improved and I graduated from LAVC, moved on to California State University, Northridge, graduated at the top of my class and became a successful electrical engineer. I was invited back to CSUN to deliver the commencement speech at the CSUN engineering graduation ceremony and was honored with the “Entrepreneur of the Year” and “CSUN’s School of Engineering and Computer Sciences Outstanding Alumnus” awards. I am also a Registered Professional Electrical Engineer in the State of California.
I owe a great deal to the community college and university I attended, and this experience has shaped my strong conviction that the nation significantly underestimates the essential role these institutions play. Community colleges are cornerstones of accessible and affordable education, ensuring that a broad and diverse population can pursue academic and professional goals regardless of their starting point or resources.
In his book COMING UP SHORT, Robert B. Reich, writes that Berkeley professor David Kirp has pointed out, in the wake of the Supreme Court`s 2023 ruling that gutted affirmative action, enrollment of Black and Latino students declined in most colleges and universities. His answer: Recruit community college graduates. Community colleges enroll more than 40 percent of America's undergraduate students. More than a million students graduate from these schools every year. Admitting more of them to top-notch four-year universities would lead to greater racial, ethnic, and economic diversity on those campuses. Community college students are often older, more likely to be single parents, veterans, or the first in their family to attend college. In short, top-tier universities can boost diversity without relying on quotas by recruiting community college graduates. While enrolling community college graduates won`t compensate for the damage done by the Supreme Court`s decision to gut affirmative action, it can be an important part of the answer, concludes Reich.
Indeed, community colleges lay the groundwork for a robust and equitable society. They are instrumental in shaping workforce readiness, preparing individuals with the skills and knowledge required to meet the evolving demands of the job market. Additionally, they are at the heart of community development, fostering growth and opportunity within local neighborhoods and beyond. I can strongly attest to the fact that community colleges impact on the strength and resilience of the nation.
My tenure at Los Angeles Valley College played a key role in broadening my access to higher education through open admission and free tuition. Today these colleges, once known as junior colleges, support students from varied backgrounds, including working adults, parents, and first-generation students—who might not fit traditional academic profiles. By making education accessible, they reduce barriers tied to finances or past academic performance.
A vital role in workforce development is played by the community college by quickly training students for careers in areas like healthcare, information technology, public safety, manufacturing, and skilled trades. Most programs take two years or less, allowing graduates to enter the job market with relevant skills. Collaboration with local industries keeps training aligned with current labor demands, supporting economic growth and competitiveness.
And true substantial benefits result from community colleges. They support social mobility and middle-class stability by providing affordable paths to degrees and certifications. They allow students to start their education, transfer to universities, and save money, reducing student debt. This kind of affordability strengthens the middle class, enabling graduates to invest in homes, families, and communities—investments that reinforce the nation’s economic health.
Undoubtedly, the community college has become an important community hub. Beyond academic and workforce training, they play a significant role in supporting local communities by offering continuing education, small‑business development programs, cultural events, public resources that enrich community life and philanthropy, as LAVC does through its Foundation. Because many graduates remain in the regions where they studied, the benefits of community colleges ripple outward, strengthening local economies and civic engagement. These institutions are not just places of learning; they are community anchors.
Another important contribution of community colleges is their ability to be adaptable, quickly responding to technological changes, labor market shifts, and national challenges. They launch innovative programs in growing fields, retrain workers during downturns, and support priorities like renewable energy, cybersecurity, and healthcare, making them vital for both short- and long-term needs.
Community colleges are far more than steppingstones to four‑year universities. They serve as pillars of opportunity, engines of economic development, and catalysts for social progress. The nation must invest in community colleges because it will be investing in its own future. It will be cultivating a skilled workforce, expanding access to education, strengthening communities, and promoting upward mobility.
The historical backdrop of the community college involves a movement started in 1901 with Joliet Junior College in Illinois, the first of its kind. The purpose was to provide affordable local postsecondary education for students who otherwise had limited access. Following World War II, the GI Bill spurred rapid growth in higher education, leading community colleges to focus on both academic transfer and vocational training. These priorities—equipping students for four-year degrees and workforce entry—remain central today.
Federal support provided by the Higher Education Act of 1965 contributed significantly to the effort, so much that by the 1970s, community colleges were recognized for their commitment to open-access education, offering opportunities to individuals of all ages and backgrounds—particularly those previously underrepresented in traditional four-year colleges.
In addition to being a launch pad for four-year universities, community colleges provide practical training in many fields. For example, in the plumbing and the electrical fields, both firsthand experience and apprenticeship opportunities are available. Students can pursue industry-recognized certifications or degrees in skilled trades, and many courses are available with flexible options like evening or hybrid schedules. For instance, programs feature instruction on electric wiring, blueprint reading, equipment use, safety protocols, and national electrical codes. Additionally, numerous colleges collaborate with unions and trade groups or have state-registered apprenticeships that blend classroom learning with real-world job training.
Without doubt, education is the true start of our growth. And these remarkable colleges also provide an extraordinary benefit—continuous education. It is what Socrates meant when he said: “Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.”
(Nick Patsaouras is an electrical engineer and civic leader whose firm has shaped projects across residential, commercial, medical, educational, institutional, and entertainment sectors. A longtime public advocate, he ran for Mayor in 1993 with a focus on rebuilding L.A. through transportation after the 1992 civil unrest. He has served on major public boards, including the Department of Water and Power, Metro, and the Board of Zoning Appeals, helping guide infrastructure and planning policy in Los Angeles. He is the author of the book "The Making of Modern Los Angeles.")
