Characteristics of the California Community Colleges

Characteristics of the California Community College Student

According to the California Community College Chancellor’s Office:

• Over one and a half million students were enrolled statewide in Fall 1999
• 18% were first time students and 11% were returning students
• 76% of the students are enrolled as non credit or are taking less than 12 units
• 56% are female
• 30% are over 35 year-old
• 65% are daytime students
• Most of the students are part-time.

Characteristics of faculty

Faculty Demographics
According to the California Community College Chancellor's Office Report on Staffing and Salaries, Fall 1998 (most recent data publicly available):

Full time faculty totaled 19,168 statewide. Salary ranged from $25,000 to over $80,000 per year. The average salary was $59,295 per year. Gender and ethnicity: 52.5% were men, 16.4% White, 9.7% Hispanic, 5.7% Asian, 6.4% black, 1.1% American Indian/Alaskan, and 0.7% Filipino. The average age was 49.9 years.

Characteristics of part-time faculty

According to the California Community College Chancellor's Office Report on Staffing and Salaries, Fall 1998 (most recent data publicly available):

Part-time faculty totaled 31,053 statewide. Salary rates ranged from $9.99 per hour to $55.00 per hour. The average rate was $40.84 per hour. Gender and ethnicity: 51.3% were men, 80.3% White, 7.6% Hispanic, 5.9% Asian, 4.8% black, 0.8% American Indian/Alaskan, and 0.7% Filipino. The average age was 47.2 years.

 

What are the qualifications for teaching at a community college?

The minimum qualifications for teaching and/or administrative positions in California Community Colleges are generally:

• A Masters Degree in the subject (or equivalent) for academic disciplines
• An Associate Degree with six years of related occupational experience or a Bachelor's Degree and two years of related occupational experience for vocational disciplines.
• Alternatively, possession of a valid California Community College credential also meets the minimum qualifications requirement. (Please note that issuance of CC Credentials was discontinued in July of 1990; they are no longer available.)

Other locally established qualifications may also apply. Exact qualifications for any specific position are available from the district advertising a position opening. All California Community Colleges seek individuals for faculty and administrative positions, including underrepresented groups: women, ethnic minorities, and persons with disabilities.

Comparisons between 2 year and 4 year institutions

• Many of the 4 year institution require a faculty to have a doctorate, while the 2 year institution typically requires a minimum of a Master’s degree.
  
• Many of the 4 year institutions have a research perspective, while the community colleges are student orientated.