THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE ENVIRONMENT

Presentation developed by
Dr. Lisa Osborne, Director, Centre for Learning and Academic Success


Bermuda College was formed on the Community College Model which originated in Canada and The USA.      Here are interesting facts about the origin of community colleges.


 American Community College

  • 2-yr college-began in the early 1900’s as a response to the need for trained workers.
  • Junior Colleges (before 1940’s) – first 2 years of a 4-yr university curriculum.
  • Comprehensive Community College (after 1940’s).
  • 1,195 community colleges in the U.S. and enroll 11.5 million students.
  • 95% have “Open Admissions Policy’
  • 37% of funding comes from the state.


The Canadian Community College

  • Varies in mandate, depending on location, models, and policy frameworks.
  • Established between 1965 and 1973.
  • Respond to training needs of business; industry, the public sector and vocational education.
  • Initially only offered diplomas and certificates. In recent times some degrees have been offered.
  • There are 150 community colleges in Canada.


Typical Community College 


Student Profile

  • A diverse group of students;
  • Various reasons for attending
  • Large % of nontraditional (46%), low-income, and minority students
  • Average age-29 
  • Black:13%
  • Hispanic: 15%
  • 60% women (American Association of Community Colleges, 2009).


Faculty Profile

Faculty staffing at community colleges differs in various ways from 4-yr institutions.

  • Majority hold part-time positions.
  • Primary activity for faculty at community colleges is teaching (90%).
  • Greater % of Black and Hispanic faculty at community colleges than at 4-yr institutions.
  • Male faculty predominate in 4-yr institutions whereas in community colleges there is relative parity between male and female faculty.

                                

 Bermuda College


Student Profile: Bermuda College

  • 576 students enrolled at Bermuda College in Spring 2022
  • 92% in a programme
  • 55% full-time
  • 41% part-time in credit courses
  • 4% part-time in non-credit Courses
  • Demographics:     61% female/39%male


Faculty Profile: Bermuda College

  • Faculty- 100 (Fall 2010)
  • 37 part-time
  • 47 full-time
  • _ Business/Hospitality
  • _ Liberal Arts     
  • _ Applied Science
  • 23PACE





Governance/Administration Bermuda College

Bermuda College

  • The Bermuda College Act established Bermuda College in 1974 in response to a need to provide university preparation, hospitality training, and technical education.
  • Early years at Bermuda College were influenced by the Canadian model in that the college only offered diplomas and certificates.
  • In 1990’s, Bermuda College began to offer the associate’s degree



Mission of Bermuda College

Bermuda College is committed to providing the community with innovative programmes, training, support services and access to partnerships that lead to local and global success.


Student Profile: Bermuda College


  • 576 students enrolled at Bermuda College in Fall 2010
  • 92% in a programme
  • 55% full-time
  • 41% part-time in credit courses
  • 4% part-time in non-credit Courses

          61% female/39%male


Faculty Profile: Bermuda College

Faculty (2021- 2022)

  • 9 part-time
  • 36 full-time
  • 9 Business/Hospitality
  • 23 Arts & Science     
  • 4 Applied Science
  • 23 PACE


Curricular Functions:  Bermuda College

Bermuda College meets the community mandate by offering courses and continuing education in the following curricular areas:  Academic, Technical, Nursing and Allied Health,  Developmental Education, Continuing Education.


Each entity named below is staffed by a Dean or a Director

  • Division of Applied Science and Technology
  • Division of Business and Hospitality
  • Division of Arts & Science
  • Department of Nursing an Allied Health
  • Centre for Learning and Academic Success
  • Professional and Career Education (PACE)


Academic Function:  Bermuda College

Bermuda College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).


  • BC offers 19 associate degree programmes in a variety of curricular areas listed above
  • Articulation Agreements ( 2 + 2 model)
  • BC has more than 30 articulation Agreements

with 4-Year Institutions located in Canada, The United Kingdom, The United Sates of America, and the West Indies.



Development Education:  Bermuda College

  • Historically, about 1/3 of beginning community college students have reported taking some remedial coursework in their first year (National Center for Education Statistics).
  • Mathematics was the most common remedial course reported by beginning students.
  • Bermuda College has similar challenges. Of all BC applicants, greater than 50% were placed in developmental math. 


Support Services: Bermuda College

Counselling and Guidance

  • Orientation
  • Extracurricular Activities
  • Financial Aid
  • Student Learning and Development

Role of Student Services

The mission of the Bermuda College Student Services Division is to enhance student learning and success by providing support services in response to students’ needs. Some of the areas include: admissions and records, financial aid and scholarships, counselling, sports and recreation, Student Government, and academic support.