A Study of Students from Academic Programs in British Columbia's Community Colleges

Oct 15, 2026

The study examines the behavior of students who complete academic or university transfer courses in British Columbia community colleges but do not continue to university study. Data from roughly 4,000 students across 14 colleges in the 1979-80 calendar year show that students pursue academic credit courses mainly for personal development. The findings highlight how community colleges function as an intellectual and cultural environment for mature learners and how their educational role has broadened beyond their original transfer-focused mission.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages13

Reading Time33 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Resume

Introduction

Study Objectives

# A Study of Students from Academic Programsin British Columbia's Community Colleges JOHN D.DENNISON,GLEN FORRESTER,GORDON JONES* ## ABSTRACT One of the major features of British Columbia's community colleges has beenthe university transfer programs which provide the opportunity for students toearn credits towards a university degree.Previous studies have shown,however,that only a small percentage of students from these programs actually transfer toa university.This study was designed to examine the behaviour of those studentswho complete academic or university transfer courses in a college,but do notcontinue their study in a university.Data were gathered from approximately 4,000 students from 14 colleges in the 1979-80 calendar year.The results of thestudy indicate that students pursue academic credit courses primarily for per-sonal development rather than for university transfer.The community collegesprovide an intellectual and cultural environment,particularly for mature studentswho for geographic,educational or socio-economic reasons would not have beenable to continue their education beyond secondary school.The study providedan important insight into the changing role of the community college.Originallydesigned as an institution for college age students to begin university level study,it has become a multi-purpose educational resource for a wide segment of society. ## RESUME Une des principales caracteristiques des colleges communautaires de la ColombieBritannique a été d'offrir à ses étudiants la possibilité de prendre des credits trans-férables au niveau universitaire.Des études antérieures ont démontré que seule-ment un faible pourcentage détudiants utilisent cette possibilite et transferentà luniversité.Cette étude avait pourbut dexaminerle comportement des étudiantsqui,de fait,se prévalent de la possibilité de prendre des credits transférables maisqui ne continuent pas leurs études aI'université.Les resultats d'une étude qui futmenee en 1979-80 avec la participationde14 colleges et4,000 etudiants indiquentque ces étudiants sont d'abord intéresses à parfaire leur développement personnelplutot qu'à s'inscrire à Iuniversité.Les colleges communautaires procurent un *The three authors are respectively working for The University of British Columbia,B.C.Research,and The Vancouver Community College. environnement intellectuel et culturel pour les étudiants adultes en particulierqui,pour des raisons de niveau de scolarité,localisation géographique et milieusocio-economique,n'auraient pu continuer leurs études au-delà du secondaire.Cette étude démontre que le role des colleges communautaires a changé:concusinitialement pour les étudiants d'age collégial afin de leur permettre de com-mencer leurs études universitaires,les colleges communautaires sont maintenantdevenus une ressource utilisee par un large segment de la societé pour des finsvariees. ## INTRODUCTION In 1965,the first community college in British Columbia,Vancouver City College,commenced operation under the aegis of the Vancouver School Board.In theensuing fifteen years,fifteen colleges have been established throughout theprovince.Six are located in the densely populated areas of the Lower Mainlandand southern Vancouver Island,while the remaining nine are spread over theinterior and northern regions of the province.Largely modelled upon the multi-purpose two-year institutions in the United States,British Columbia collegeshave embraced a comprehensive curriculum,reflected in a variety of programsincluding university transfer,career/technical,vocational,remedial and upgrading,and community education. While the colleges have undergone a process of evolutionary change,theuniversity transfer or liberal studies programs have retained a high public profileand are one of the most attractive features,particularly for students who,for avariety of reasons,are unable to enroll in the universities.All three publicuniversities in the province are located in the

FAQs

What question does the study focus on?

It focuses on the behavior of students who complete academic or university transfer courses at community colleges but do not continue their studies at a university.

How was the study data collected?

Data were gathered from approximately 4,000 students from 14 colleges during the 1979-80 calendar year.

What do the results suggest about why students take academic credit courses?

Students pursue academic credit courses primarily for personal development rather than for university transfer.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Rainbow Cat