Service-learning projects, community-specific educational programs and targeted recruitment are the major forms of community outreach that two-year colleges use to connect with and collaborate with the people in their vicinity. Service-learning projects combine academics and civic engagement and involve students meeting a specific need in the community as part of their studies, such as tutoring grade school students and teaching computer literacy. Targeting community residents for recruitment to the school's student body and to its faculty and administration increases participation of the least-represented groups. These activities help raise the profile and visibility of the school while meeting the needs of residents.
Many community colleges help the community by creating credit and noncredit courses for residents who are not part of the typical college profile. For example, they offer a pre-college track for high school students; GED classes; supplemental learning for gifted, talented, home-schooled and disabled people; courses adapted for those who are learning English; and a track for senior citizens, which are offered at senior centers convenient for elderly residents.
Colleges partner with businesses to develop programs that meet the specific needs of industries in the area. The schools act almost like consultants--a corporation engages their services to get residents interested in their line of work or to encourage them to improve particular work-related skills. These activities increase the reach and breadth of the school and put more people in the pipeline for enrollment in a degree course.
Community colleges raise their profiles by sponsoring thousands of public events each year. They host arts and entertainment activities, like concerts and plays; open their recreational facilities, like swimming pools and tracks for public use; put on cultural events; and allow businesses and community organizations the use of their meeting rooms and facilities. In addition to establishing goodwill with the community, these practices generate revenue.
Service-learning projects provide major benefits to community residents. Because a specific need is being met, these projects have helped improve a community's health, literacy as well as educational levels. Through community education programs, residents enjoy increased employability and employment opportunities. Whole communities have seen improved economic development, social cohesion and safety.
According to the American Association of Community Colleges, service learning has a positive effect on student learning outcomes, civic engagement and retention rates. Community outreach helps schools execute their core missions, and provides good publicity for the schools. These programs lead to opportunities for faculty development, such as publication and grant funding for various projects. These in turn support the community college's number one goal of increasing the number of students who enroll in courses and degree programs.