Courses in College

Community colleges have always been safe havens where struggling students can bring themselves up to academic par before transferring to a four-year university. In some cases, this might mean repeating a course a number of times before getting the required grade to advance to the next level. However, budget constrictions are impacting repeat classes for students across the country, with some left wondering how they will complete their community college program. We will take a look at both sides of this issue to find out how institutions are struggling to balance their commitment to student achievement with their bottom line.

This video explains what to do when you fail a class.

California Setting Limits

California is one of the first to look into setting limits on repeat courses at community colleges across the state. According to a report at Inside Higher Ed, the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office is looking into the feasibility of limiting the number of times students can repeat courses within their college system. Currently, a small number of California community college students may repeat a class as many as five times or more during their college career.

A spokesman for the chancellor's office, Terri Carbaugh, told Inside Higher Ed that the office was looking into the feasibility of a regulation limiting the number of times students can retake courses to save taxpayer dollars. The office would

It all started when Lane Community College in Oregon decided to offer a non-credit course titled "What is Islam?" The instructor of the course, Barry Sommer, had applied to teach a class in Islam for the community college, which the college accepted. However, before the course had a single sign-up, the college put the brakes on the offering. School officials learned some potentially disturbing facts about Sommer and decided it was best to nip the brewing controversy in the bud.

The Facts

Eugene resident Barry Sommer applied in October of this year to teach a class on Islam at Lane Community College. The school typically offers non-credit courses for interested students throughout the year, many of which are taught by qualified community residents rather than college professors. According to a report at World Net Daily, approval for the course came, and Sommer began preparations for teaching. When the course went online on the college website, Sommer also sent out a press release to alert others to his offering.

Once the details were announced, a local news station asked to interview Sommer. As the course became more public, so did Sommer's background. The Sommer may have been involved in organizations that were perceived as anti-Islamic. Once the news spread that Sommer was a potentially controversial figure in the Islamic community, Lane pulled the plug on the course.

This short video offers an overview of Islam.

Leisure has become a multibillion-dollar business in the United States, with camps, cruises, and other recreational activities gaining steam across the country. As the industry grows, so does the need for qualified professionals working in the various aspects of leisure and recreation. To answer the call, community colleges are beginning to offer degrees in "leisure" to help those interested in this profession get started on a lucrative, rewarding career.

About the Leisure Industry

Recreation workers deal with a wide range of environments and duties, from organizing arts and crafts at a children's camp to running organized sports leagues for corporations or communities. Jobs may be seasonal or permanent, and the large majority of positions are part-time. Because competition is stiff for full-time positions within this industry, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, additional education and training can go a long way in helping you secure the position you want.

Recreation employees may work in a wide range of settings, including:

• Cruise ships
• Nature parks
• Summer camps
• Community centers

While many employees in this industry spend many of their working hours outdoors, directors and managers primarily enjoy a desk job, organizing activities, and managing staff from an office. The employment outlook for this industry is good, with faster than average growth expected in many areas.

This video reports on the recreation and leisure services programs at Georgian College.

Training in Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City Community

Community colleges have always been at the forefront of training students for both traditional and innovative careers...and ghost-busting is no exception! Indeed, a handful of community colleges are actually offering paranormal studies to train students in the interesting field of ghost-busting.

Be spooked or inspired by the paranormal studies available at the following community colleges. Could researching ghosts be the right career choice for you?

Ivy Tech Community College

This Indiana institution is known for many strong fields of study, but recently, the college added paranormal investigation courses to its catalog. These courses, according to the Kokomo Perspective, are designed to explore the world of paranormal behavior in a way never seen before.

The teacher of the course, Al Taylor, is the PR director of Indiana Ghost Trackers. Taylor will lead students on an exploration of paranormal research that will include conduct and safety, as well as the proper use of paranormal equipment.

The courses are offered at two different Ivy Tech campuses and are done in collaboration with the Kokomo Region of the Department of Workforce and Economic Development. This organization offer provides career training solutions to help fill the needs of today's employers.

Alamance Community College

In North Carolina, Alamance Community College is offering its own brand of paranormal training. The school's current class in paranormal investigations has been consistently topping the list as

According to the U.S. Department of Labor website, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, also known as OSHA, was established to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for working men and women. The act is designed to provide the necessary training and education to maintain a high level of safety in a wide range of industries.

To work in these industries, new employees must attend OSHA training before beginning their new jobs. Today, there are plenty of options in OSHA training since community colleges nationwide have stepped up to answer the call for skilled laborers who understand the importance of safety on the job.

This video explains what OSHA is.

Determining a Need

OSHA includes specific training guidelines that must be applied to all businesses, from the employer down to all employees. The guidelines include:

• Determining whether there is a need for training
• Identifying training needs, goals, and objectives
• Developing learning activities and conducting training
• Evaluating the effectiveness of the program and creating improvements when necessary

The model set forth by the U.S. Department of Labor makes it much easier for smaller companies to conduct their training without going to the added expense of hiring professional trainers or purchasing expensive materials. However, the value of utilizing a community college program for OSHA training often makes this path the best choice for companies of all sizes.

Community colleges take the guesswork out of the