Community Colleges in Texas
College Profile

Community colleges—initially known as junior colleges--are institutions of higher education whose history can be traced to American roots in contrast to the European traditions associated with four-year colleges and universities in this country. From the very beginning, the primary mission of junior colleges was to provide access to higher education for students who otherwise would have been denied the opportunity (American Association of Community Colleges [AACC], 2005).

Community Colleges in Texas

Currently, there are fifty public community college districts in Texas. While access was the main reason for establishing community colleges in Texas, there were several other reasons for their existence (Bailey, 1999; Botts, 2000; Cross & Glover, 1985; Faulk, 1996; Melugin, 2000a; Melugin, 2000b; Schmidt, 1958; Taylor, 1979). First, the citizens in rural Texas were concerned about the moral environment for students. Communities that established community colleges were motivated to provide the first two years of college in the students’ hometown to allow them to mature and not face the moral challenges of a university town. Second, the communities established community colleges for financial reasons. These institutions saved students and parents money. A third reason for establishing a college was to enhance the culture of the community. Faculty recruited by the local community college enhanced the educational level of the community and many of the activities of the college provided cultural opportunities for citizens (e.g., theater, music, etc.). Finally, the initial colleges in Texas were established as a matter of civic pride.

Editorial is excerpted from “A Policy Analysis of Community College Funding in Texas”; Dissertation by Donald C. Hudson as run on The Texas Association of
Community Colleges website www.tacc.org.