President's Welcome - Academic Year 2010-11
"Community colleges are a vital component of our higher education system, serving 12 million people each year,
almost half of the undergraduate students in the U.S. Without community colleges, millions of people would not be
able to access the education and skills they need to further education or succeed in the workplace"
President Barack Obama
President Barack Obama has continued his support of investing in community colleges in the first two years of his
administration because of the key role these institutions have in helping to boost the ailing economy. We are seeing
the impact on community colleges in the record numbers of students enrolled in community colleges across the country.
More non-traditional age students (25 and older) are returning to or attending college for the first time.
In addition, more high school students are considering attending community college because of the lack of living-wage
jobs. We also know that many new jobs require some college education. It is predicted that by 2018, occupations in a
category with some postsecondary education are expected to experience higher rates of growth than those in an on-the-job
training category.
Occupations in the associate degree category are projected to grow the fastest, at about 19 percent
(Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Bureau of Labor and Statistics).
New careers in green technology are also contributing to employment in new fields.
As we enter into this period of exciting opportunities, we are also trying to build academic and student services
to help our students successfully complete a college education. It is Century College’s mission
to provide our students with all of the resources necessary to succeed both professionally and personally. We want our students to gain an
education that encompasses cultural literacy, technological sophistication, and social responsibility. It is our goal
to provide the learning environment needed to achieve such an education.
We encourage our students to use the GPS LifePlan to develop Career and Educational plans
that can serve as a road map to succeed in completing a certificate, diploma or degree, or preparing to transfer to a four-year college.
We encourage our students to finish what they start, because earning a college degree will help individuals
to earn higher salaries and to build both financial security for their families and a better national economy.
If you find yourself struggling as a student, find support through your instructor or a counselor or visit one
of the many academic affairs or student services resource areas.
It is our mission to help every student succeed.
Welcome again to our new and returning students. I hope that you have a successful and rewarding year.
Sincerely,
Larry Litecky
President, Century College
