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CCsmart Wants Americans to Realize the Value of Community College Education

Jackson, MS - CCsmart powered by Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) wants to emphasize the importance of community college education in an effort to counter the ongoing decline in enrollment at two- and four-year colleges. CCsmart.org serves as an online resource for both parents and students, providing them with evidence-based and reliable information regarding higher education tracks that students may choose to follow, from workforce training to associate degrees to transfer alternatives to bachelor’s degrees.

People who need to decide about going to college are given free access to CCsmart. The use of the site is free of charge and users are not required to register. CCsmart.org is also ADA-optimized, mobile-friendly, and offers seamless navigation to allow parents and students to find the information they need to decide on which path to take when it comes to higher education. It also offers easy to understand information regarding the financial options for the different credential and degree alternatives, including aid options that go beyond the usual Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Pell Grants. Those who are interested in getting information on how to pay for community college can check out the CCsmart website.

“There are many options and paths in the higher education process, and community college can be a great option. Community colleges offer technical and vocational training programs which can enhance opportunities for better, higher-paying jobs, and there are many two-year paths for careers such as nursing. It’s also a great place to start your path toward a bachelor’s or advanced degree from a four-year university,” says Dr. George Boggs, Chair of Phi Theta Kappa’s Board of Directors.

Unfortunately, participation in community colleges has gone down by 19 percent of 1.33 million students during the last decade, with 8 percent of the loss directly caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, community college continues to be the most affordable pathway when it comes to higher education, costing an average of $3,800 per year, which is only 40 percent of the tuition cost of four-year college institutions. And community colleges provide a variety of opportunities for employment and career development.

“Right now, these (community) colleges are underutilized, and we have to fix that. CCsmart is about creating awareness of what these colleges have to offer, and it is also about fixing the short supply of skilled and trained workers needed for a strong U.S. economy,” says Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner, CCsmart/Phi Theta Kappa’s CEO and President. She plans on promoting the CCsmart.org site to college-age groups and their parents all throughout the US with the goal of influencing their decisions with regards to going to a community college.

CCsmart came into existence based on the idea of several PTK students who wanted to share how they had succeeded as community college students. They want to encourage other students to examine the opportunities presented by community colleges, especially for first generation college students and those coming from underserved populations.

Tala Alahmar, Phi Theta Kappa’s 2022 International Student President, says, “Community college instructors know your name and your circumstances. This is a resource that can be accessed any time, and from anywhere. I thrived at a community college, and CCsmart is our way of telling people the stigma around community college is wrong. It is the exact opposite—people are smart to choose them, and here are the reasons why.”

CCsmart is a newly established subsidiary of Phi Theta Kappa, which is a 104-year old nonprofit organization that serves as the official honor society of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), with the goal of convincing students to consider community college as their next educational step. CCsmart.org is an online resource to provide guidance to allow parents and students to make informed decisions about the college path with a special emphasis on the opportunities and resources provided by local community colleges. CCsmart is a sub-brand of PTK, which is an international honor society with over 3.8 million members in almost 1,300 chapters in 11 countries.

Those who are interested in learning more about the value of community college can visit the CCsmart website or contact them via the telephone or through email.

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For more information about CCsmart powered by Phi Theta Kappa, contact the company here:

CCsmart powered by Phi Theta Kappa
Rebecca Warren, PTK Chief Experience Officer
(800) 946-9995
rebecca.warren@ptk.org
1625 Eastover Drive, Jackson, MS 39211

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