BHCC President Pam Eddinger Speaks for “Democracy’s College” at CASE Conference
Monday, February 3, 2014
In a wide-ranging discussion moderated by WBUR Radio’s On Point host Tom Ashbrook at the Westin Copley Place in Boston on January 30, Bunker Hill Community College President Pam Y. Eddinger stressed the role of community colleges as “Democracy’s college” in today’s higher education landscape. The conference included representatives of two- and four-year colleges and universities throughout the Northeast. Eddinger shared a panel with the Chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and the President of Bentley University.
Responding to questions about steeply rising student debt, joblessness among college graduates, and a growing perception that college may be out of reach for many high school graduates today, Eddinger pointed to the role of community colleges in making higher education affordable to low-income students.
“In addition,” the president said, “young people today are dealing with a social fabric that is deteriorating around them. If the community colleges do not help to re-weave the social fabric, it simply unravels.” Community colleges like BHCC now provide a comprehensive approach to the financial, educational and career needs of students in order to make college possible for them, she explained.
The panel discussion, called “A View from the Top: Presidents on the Challenges and Opportunities in Higher Education,” was a highlight of the northeast district conference of CASE, the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. CASE is an international professional association serving educational institutions and the advancement professionals who work on their behalf in alumni relations, communications, development, marketing and allied areas.
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About Bunker Hill Community College
With more than 50 years of academic excellence, Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) is Massachusetts' largest community college, annually welcoming a diverse community of around 16,000 students. With campuses in Charlestown and Chelsea, BHCC extends its reach across several locations in Greater Boston. The College offers associate degrees and certificates, early college and dual enrollment, community education, corporate training, and industry-specific training programs. BHCC is celebrated for its diversity, boasting a student body where 65% identify as people of color and more than half are women. The College also embraces a global perspective, with over 600 international students representing 90 countries and conversing in more than 65 languages. Our commitment to diversity is further reflected in BHCC's designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI).