Open access fosters diversity across campuses
By CHRISTINE JOHNSON MCPHAIL, Published April 1, 2009

America’s community colleges are both similar and different in many ways. Most community colleges are public, while others are private. Some are large, urban multi-campus/college institutions, and some are single college systems, located in suburban or rural areas.

Each of the close to 1,200 colleges has its own local mission. The collective diversity among community colleges is their greatest asset, and diversity has helped make the U.S. community college system a major resource for higher education. The community college’s open-door policy and commitment to diversity form a perfect union for serving the higher educational needs of our country. Preserving access and diversity is essential if we hope to serve the future needs of our democratic society. 

It is time for the general public to know why community college leaders believe so strongly that access and diversity should continue to be core values of the community college system. A two-year college’s unique mission is to provide open access and affordable education to all who desire to learn. Diversity enriches that learning experience.  The local community college provides opportunities for students to learn from those whose experiences, beliefs and perspectives are different from their own. 

Community colleges provide a rich, diverse, intellectual and social environment, where stereotypes and preconceptions can be challenged and differences embraced and valued. I believe that a learning experience in a diverse setting prepares students to become enlightened citizens in an ever increasing global society. It stimulates awareness and appreciation for racial, gender, cultural and generational differences.

The community college’s access and affordability express the fundamental values of our democratic society: access to high quality higher education experiences for all. In these challenging times, sustaining the open-door access will require community college leaders to maintain policies and practices to ensure that learners from diverse backgrounds and cultures continue to have access to higher education.

In tough times, it is highly likely that the open door mission of community colleges will come under attack (again) by those who have historically restricted opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds. If this is allowed to happen and tolerated, some community colleges may see a reversal in decades of progress. I hope that community college leaders and advocates will continue their efforts to assure equity for all groups in American society to have access to the community colleges.

Maintaining access and diversity in the community college will require that college leaders take strategic action to build meaningful engagements with internal and external stakeholders. It also will require them to establish and sustain diverse learning environments suitable for the needs of their diverse learners and the mission of the college. 

I hope that all of the visionaries, leaders and believers will move to forge a more perfect union to secure access and diversity in the U.S. community college.

Johnson McPhail serves on the board of directors for the American Association of Community Colleges. She recently retired as director of the community college doctoral leadership program at Morgan State University (Maryland).