To the Editor:
"At Transfer Time, Thousands of California Students Hit a Dead End" (The Chronicle, October 5) gave the impression that California's independent, nonprofit colleges and universities have no room for additional transfer students. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities represents the 77 Western Association of Schools and Colleges-accredited, nonprofit, degree-granting institutions in California. Turning away willing transfer students would be a luxury that AICCU colleges have not experienced. Several member institutions cater to transfer students almost exclusively, and others have special financial-aid programs and support services to assure access and academic success.
If every California Community Colleges transfer student wanted to attend an AICCU member institution, there would not be enough seats. However, in a state that has a bias in favor of public education because of the myth that it is cheaper, many seats available to transfer students at AICCU member colleges remain unfilled, and AICCU institutions would be only too happy to accommodate more community-college transfer students.
To be clear: California's private, nonprofit colleges and universities have room for spring transfer students, and welcome applications for this spring and next fall from transfer students. For additional information, students can check out CaliforniaColleges.edu, which includes information about all segments of higher education in California.
Robert E. Oakes
Vice President & General Counsel
Association of Independent California
Colleges and Universities
Sacramento, Calif.
Comments
1. paulkelter - November 24, 2009 at 08:04 am
In a stunning display of tortured logic, the writer calls the existence of a system accountable to public laws, and created on behalf of the public good an example of "bias." That's not bias. Rather, that's recognizing the social need for postsecondary education. That the state refuses to adquately support the public institution, instead giving millions in tax breaks and other funds to private colleges and universities which have a much lower level of public accountability, is the real example of bias.
2. peelingr - November 24, 2009 at 08:42 am
Though "bias" was perhaps a poor choice of words, Oakes makes a point that students should explore other options if they find themselves shut out of public education options or seek an institution of higher learning that is a better fit for that student's needs.
The "bias" in this discussion is against private colleges and universities. In Florida, the privates have a high sense of accountibility to the State Legislature, which annually reviews state funding to Florida resident students who opt for private colleges and universities. The Florida Independent Colleges and Universities have an outstanding track record when it comes to graduation rates and serving minority students. Though our budgets aren't public, these productivity measures are the real accountibility and are what really counts.