Running Head: A COMPARISON OF COLLEGES

A Comparison of Colleges
Jessica Turpin
Post University

Running Head: COLLEGE COMPARISON

A Comparison of Colleges
There is need for constant change and growth in education in order for the student body to be as
successful and up to date as possible. This change can only be made as part of a process that
involves the governing parties of the higher education institution. These governing bodies can
vary depending on the type of institution, public, private, for profit or not for private, or religious
affiliation. This paper will look at two higher education institutions in the state of Connecticut
and make comparisons between the two.
Albertus Magnus College
Location and Misson. Albertus Magnus college is a private not for profit institution
located on 700 Prospect Street in New Haven, CT. It is a liberal arts college and it was founded
in 1925 by the Dominican Sisters of Peace, a Catholic organization. The following is the
mission of the college:
Albertus Magnus College is committed to providing an education that enables students
to pursue the truth in all of its dimensions and is practical in its application. To continue
to realize this mission, which is grounded in the Dominican values of study, community,
service and spirituality: (Albertus Magnus College, n.d.)
Demographics. Albertus Magnus College is fairly diverse with more than half of the
student body identifying as non-white. With just under half of the student body being white nonHispanics, the second largest demographic group identifies as Black/African American followed
by Hispanic/Latino, unknown, two or more, Asian, American Indian, and last Hawaiian/Pacific
Islander. These statistics make the school fairly diverse. One interesting fact, unlike other
coeducational colleges, the student body is majority female with 68% of the student body being

Running Head: COLLEGE COMPARISON

women and only 32% men, perhaps stemming from the institutions early years as an all-female
school. The college became coeducational in 1985 (Rierden, 1989)
Retention and Success. 68 % of the freshman that enter Albertus Magnus go onto to
become sophomores in the following year. The average grade point average of the Albertus
Magnus student is 2.6
Organizational Structure. Albertus Magnus College is presided over by a board of
trustees that consists of 80% laymen and the remainder are members of the Dominican Sisters of
Peace. The administration assists in the decision making process but nothing is final unless
approved by the board of trustees. The administration consists of a president who in all but one
case since the colleges was founded have been female and other department specific vice
presidents. The current president is Julia McNamara.
Gateway Community College
Location and Mission. Gateway Community College is located on 20 Church Street in
New Haven, Connecticut. It was formerly known as South Central Community College and
located in the Long Wharf section of New Haven. The mission of the college is as follows:
Gateway Community College offers high-quality instruction and comprehensive
services in an environment conducive to learning. We respond to the changing academic,
occupational, technological, and cultural needs of a diverse population (GCC, n.d.)
Demographics. The difference between the number of males and females attending
Gateway Community College is not as significant as that in Albertus Magnus but the women still
outnumber the men at 58% to 42% (Office of Institutional Research, 2016). This institution is
slightly more diverse as far as ethnic and racial diversity is concerned when compared to

Running Head: COLLEGE COMPARISON

Albertus Magnus. The largest percentage is White non-Hispanic at just under 45%, followed by
African American, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, multiple races, with unknown and nonresident alien coming in last.
Retention and Success. The retention rate at GCC is not nearly as high as that of
Albertus Magnus coming in at only 54% retention for full time students after one year. The grade
point average of the Gateway Community College could not be located.
Organizational Structure. Similar to Albertus Magnus College, GCC also has a board of
trustees. They also have a board of directors responsible for voting on major decision making
and a president that presides over the student body, faculty and staff. The current president is Dr.
Dorsey Kendrick. The Board of Trustees governs all community and technical colleges in
Connecticut whereas the board of directors is specific to GCC. The board of directors must meet
a minimum of six times yearly (Office of Institutional Research, 2016, p.35). This board consists
of members of varying backgrounds with one common interest, the success of the college and the
students. All three entities must work together for the benefit of the college and its students.
Conclusion. The most significant difference that can be seen is the embedment of
Albertus Magnus religious affiliation into their board of trustees. 20% of the board consists of
the Sisters of Peace, the same Dominican religious group that founded the school almost 100
years ago. Gateway has three governing bodies, the board of trustees, the board of directors and
the administrative staff including president and subcommittees.

Running Head: COLLEGE COMPARISON

References
Albertus Magnus College (n.d.) About us. Retrieved from http://www.albertus.edu/aboutus/presidents/
Rierden, A. (1989) The view from albertus magnus college, a small college undergoes a
metamorphosis. The New York Times. Retrieved from
http://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/05/nyregion/the-view-from-albertus-magnus-college-asmall-college-undergoes-a-metamorphosis.html
Gatweay Community College (n.d.) About gateway community college. Retrieved from
http://www.gatewayct.edu/About
Office of Institutional Research (2016) Gateway community college fact book 2014-2016.
Retrieved from http://www.gatewayct.edu/SiteMedia/Gateway/About/Institutional
%20Research/Fact-Book2015.pdfhttp://www.gatewayct.edu/SiteMedia/Gateway/About/Institutional
%20Research/Fact-Book-2015.pdf. P. 35