April 11, 2003

Making Waves in Miami

A leading community college offers bachelor's degrees, reflecting national tension between 2- and 4-year sectors

By JAMILAH EVELYN

Florida ranks third in the nation in the number of associate degrees awarded, but only 47th in the number of bachelor's degrees it grants. That statistic rankles legislators in this state, who fear that Florida will be unable to provide enough skilled workers to keep its economy chugging if it doesn't do a better job of educating them.

But where lawmakers see potential trouble, Eduardo J. Padrón sees an opening. Statewide, and especially in this city, where the other major