Community College Students: Perceptions and Paradoxes

Abstract

This article explores perceptions of community college students and their characteristics, focusing on issues of responsibility, perceptions of self and others, personal experiences, and academic preparedness relative to community college status. A brief survey was developed to measure these perceptions in both community college and 4-year/senior college education students within the same university system. Results indicate that community college students were more likely to agree with statements related to social responsibility in becoming teachers and liking children, while senior college students were more likely to disagree that they would have preferred attending a different college. Both community college and 4-year students perceived a community college education as less valued by society in general.