Douglas College makes the grade in the New York Times

December 10, 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

It's in the New York Times - Douglas College ranks in select company in terms of providing quality education for students.

"It's always nice to get recognition in a major U.S. publication," says Douglas College President Susan Witter, "but the serious educational issues raised in the article are very applicable to Douglas College and community colleges in British Columbia."

Douglas College was rated in the top three of 13 large community colleges (8,000-13,000 students) evaluated in 2003 by the Community College Survey of Student Engagement, a study administered at the University of Texas (Austin). Douglas College, the only Canadian institution in the study of 93 colleges, shared accolades with La Guardia Community College of Long Island City, N.Y. and Oakton Community College of Illinois. The results were reported in a New York Times story on November 30 that delved into the important, and often overlooked, role community colleges play in post-secondary education.

"The Times article opens by looking at how major universities such as Columbia and NYU can totally overshadow the important work of La Guardia Community College in New York, but the situation is very similar for a community college in the same region as UBC and Simon Fraser University - even for a community college like Douglas College with 12,000 students," says Witter.

"It's noteworthy that Douglas College did well in the categories of academic challenge - which asked students how hard they worked creatively and intellectually - and student effort, which rated activities such as labs, reading, papers and special projects," Witter added. "Our rating from students in these areas should help dispel the myth that college courses are not as challenging as those in university."

A new study of B.C. university graduates showed the same results. B.C. public colleges and institutes serve about 125,000 students each year, providing both career training and up to two years of university-transfer courses for those seeking degrees. The complicated business of linking college studies to university programs is handled by the B.C. Council on Admissions and Transfer. Surveying B.C. university graduates who completed their degrees five years ago, The Class of 1996 Five Years after Graduation study by the Council found "no major differences" between grads who started in College and university-only students in areas such as employment, salaries and satisfaction with studies.

"Given that some college students have lower grades coming out of high school, the comparable success rates for those completing university degrees is another indicator B.C. colleges are providing good service," noted Douglas College Director of Institutional Research Bob Cowin, who helps administer surveys.

In the U.S. study, Douglas College was ranked as a "top performer," a status reached by only 16 of the 93 institutions studied. The college received its best grades for "active and collaborative learning," based on class participation and working with other students on projects - activities that prepare students to deal with challenges they will face in the workplace.

In an era increasingly emphasizing educational accountability, often focusing on enrolment levels or graduation figures, the U.S.-based survey was devised to develop benchmarks of quality, judging schools by how effectively they deliver educational services. More than 600 Douglas College students participated in the survey last spring. Next year, eight prominent Canadian universities including UBC will participate for the first time in the U.S. companion survey for universities.

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Kimberley Fehr, Communications & Marketing Office: 604-527-5325