Jill Biden promotes community colleges

NEW YORK, July 5 (UPI) -- Community colleges have a key role in President Barack Obama's push for U.S. high school graduates to complete at least one year of college, Jill Biden says.

Addressing the UNESCO World Conference on Higher Education in New York, the wife of Vice President Joe Biden -- who teaches at a community college -- noted that community colleges serve many students who are non-traditional and part-time students, or who normally would have a hard time continuing their education.

Community colleges also play a role in assisting developing countries, in part through state department scholarships to students and faculty from community colleges in these countries, Biden said. Community colleges have the flexibility to offer classes that meet the immediate needs of industry in their communities, she said.