WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama wants publicly funded community college available to all Americans, a sweeping, multibillion-dollar proposal that would make higher education as accessible as a high school diploma to boost weak U.S. wages and skills for the modern workforce.
Colleges and universities are becoming less and less affordable for many, and community colleges are becoming the better choice for potential students.
It was once a laughable option for many people, sometimes referred to as "13th grade," but the stigma surrounding community college has been fading over time.
A growing number of New Jersey high school seniors are getting a leg up on their higher education careers by taking college-level courses before they actually enroll in college.
If you're one of the long-term unemployed, listen up. As part of a new federal law, New Jersey is partnering with its community colleges to help people get back in the workforce.
Community colleges across the country have cut programs and downsized services in the recent years, but in New Jersey, the situation has not been so tragic. The Garden State's community colleges have been preparing for the time they would need to "do more with less."
UPDATE: Assembly Republicans Amy Handlin and Donna Simon are drafting legislation that would make compensation for community college presidents transparent and accountable to tuition payers and taxpayers.
A report released today by the Office of the State Comptroller found that New Jersey's community colleges padded their president's compensation with perks such as housing allowances, meals and airfare.