I don't know . . . sounds a little like a toothpaste https://edsource.org/2019/californias-online-community-college-gets-a-new-name-and-its-a-bright-one/613433
Here's a kind of update https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/editorials/story/2019-09-30/calbright-online-college-job-skills
Sounds good. I'm disappointed it will accept only 400 students at first, but perhaps that will change soon. I've advocated for a national qualifications framework for years, one which can move unskilled workers to skilled (and recognized) qualifications that meet industry needs. And I've always thought the community colleges were the "ground zero" for this. Online learning will be a key--the workers are not yet where the work is, but getting them qualifications can help bridge that. This ain't that, but offering free community college education online is a great start.
It sounds better than some community college in California such as Saddleback College, Foothill College.
It's the product of the same kind of "branding consultants" that thought up "Alliant International University". Though I agree with them that 'Calbright' does have an upbeat and hopeful tone to it. "...the institution - which is expected to receive at least $240 million over the next seven years - won't be like any traditional college. It won't have a set course catalog, distinct academic departments, grade point system or a student body recruited from the general public to earn an associate degree. Instead, it will be a technological support and educational delivery system in job training for adult workers without college degrees who are starting jobs or trying to advance, according to Hiles. Employers will have a big say in what is taught and where. Those firms will be expected to subsidize costs so students won't pay any tuition." https://edsource.org/2019/californias-newest-college-will-blend-online-and-face-to-face-job-training/611498 If they are serious about excluding students with degrees, this doesn't sound like a continuing education provider that will keep students current in rapidly changing fields or help them transition to new ones. And an awful lot will depend on what kind of reception it gets from employers and how much use they make of it. That in turn will depend on how costly it is to them, who designs the programs and teaches the classes, how customizable they are, and how satisfied employers are with its product. All kinds of variables. It sounds like a way for employers to out-source on-the-job-training. It could be a very good thing... or it could just as easily crash-and-burn. A great deal is going to depend on the details.
At least Slippery Rock University is named after the city in which it is located. I see nothing wrong with the name.
I'm not familiar with Saddleback, but it sounds fine to me. Kind of a Western flavor. Here in the Bay Area, Foothill has a widespread reputation for being the best local community college. There's lots of cool things about Foothill. I like the Peninsula Astronomical Society, an amateur astronomy group that meets there and provides staff for the Foothill College Observatory. . It isn't hurt by being in Los Altos Hills either, since Los Altos Hills is exceedingly upscale, one of the places where Silicon Valley billionaires live on lush estates. The third richest zip code in the US in 2017 according to Forbes. Horse country with helicopter pads. Photographs here (You've heard of the "1%"? This is where they live.) So Foothill College just seems kind of... high-end, at least locally. It isn't Compton College.
Everytime I listen to this song, "Old Town Road" makes me remembering Saddleback College...I don't know why.
