I recently heard someone refer to Volunteer State Community College as “a second-choice school.” As a community college educator, I’ve heard those kinds of comments before, but they never stop landing a little sideways in my brain.
The idea that community colleges and four-year colleges/universities are inherently different is true, but maybe not for the reasons people commonly assume.
Four-year colleges and universities do important work in our society. They offer four-year and graduate-level degrees, they drive research initiatives that benefit us all and they serve as important communities of thinkers and academicians, those who address the great challenges of our world.
A community college generally offers two-year associate degrees and one-year technical certificates. Those two-year degrees designed for transfer to a four-year school contain many of the same courses every student in the state of Tennessee takes, whether they are at UT-Knoxville, Tennessee Tech or Vol State. Two-thirds or more of the first two years consists of what is called the General Education Core, and that core is the same across the state of Tennessee and greatly similar across the nation.
One of the most important differences that people assume between universities and community colleges is that of quality. When it comes to research, graduate degrees and upper-division courses, the universities do a great job. But hear me on this and perhaps buckle your seatbelt – when it comes to the first two years, a community college isn’t as good as a university. It’s better. Yes, I said it. We are the Gen Ed experts. We lay a stronger foundation than anybody else, and I make that claim without reservation. I’ll put two years at Vol State up against the first two years at any institution.
I’ve seen many students come to Vol State perhaps a little lost. Two years later they look like different people – focused, confident and guided by purpose. I’ve had students finish at Vol State and transfer to a four-year college or university, and they tend to come back saying the same thing, “Vol State prepared me so well for the university.” Our student-focused approach is designed to nurture the personal drive and motivation that will propel students forward through Vol State’s programs and beyond.
Let the universities get the acclaim they deserve in the areas where they shine. Vol State shines giving students a collegiate cornerstone they can count on. Our faculty consists of brilliant and accomplished people who could or have taught at the university level. They choose to be here because they believe in the mission of Vol State and care deeply about their students. Our administration and staff consist of kind, intelligent and caring people who are dedicated to student success.
And don’t forget our sports teams – basketball, baseball, softball – men’s and women’s teams who strive for and achieve success in the game and in the classroom.
Diverse aspects of the college experience, great classroom instruction from caring professors and a beautiful campus with state-of-the-art facilities at a considerably lower cost than universities. There is nothing in that which says “second-choice school.” Vol State is a valid and excellent first-choice college right here in Sumner County.
Deb Moore is a member of the English Faculty at Vol State and currently serves as the President of the Faculty Senate. Her favorite day of the year is Vol State Graduation. She lives in Gallatin.
