Describes focus groups and studies conducted in an effort to identify and define community college teaching excellence. One of the most compelling findings suggested that both teachers and students perform at a higher level when held to higher expectations. (Contains 24 references.) (NB)

Addresses the many issues community colleges currently face, including decreased state and federal funding, increased competition from for-profit colleges, the digital divide, and enrollment and retirement trends. Suggests that institutions interact with their environments in better, fundamentally different ways. (Contains 14 references.) (NB)

Changing the culture of a college is the first and most critical step toward successful change. The Community College of Denver (CCD) has created a culture that is sustained by a heartfelt shared belief in the primacy of student success, and that has produced remarkable improvements in student success outcomes. (PGS)

Asserts that building relationships with constituents remains the best strategy for ensuring the future institutional survival of community colleges. Examines some of the conditions that community colleges will be facing in the future, such as increasing numbers of students to serve, the continuing need for remedial/developmental education, and…

Discusses a year-long study of the Community College of Denver and of research on developmental education and institutional effectiveness issues in higher education. Identifies critical issues and makes recommendations for increasing student success, including: (1) hiring the best faculty members available and monitoring and mentoring them; (2)…

Analyzes three key areas community colleges should focus on when planning for the future: finding new sources of financial support, recruiting students, and assessing institutional effectiveness. (JDI)

Provides an update on community college responses to the new student majority who lack the skills to succeed in college-level work. Defines "at-risk students," identifies college responses to literacy problems, describes promising instructional strategies, and highlights problems in evaluating programs for at-risk students. (DMM)

Describes the success of the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development's "Innovation Abstracts," a weekly publication written by and for practitioners. Suggests that the publication's success has spread beyond its originally intended audience to faculty, students, trustee and advisory boards, community residents, foundations,…

Drawing from a study of exemplary community college programs, offers recommendations for increasing support for at-risk students through preenrollment activities, orientation programs, elimination of late registration, basic skills assessment, improved financial aid, expanded mentoring programs, and increased problem solving and literacy…

Discusses the current status of and future projections for the National Institute of Education sponsored Program in Community College Education at the University of Texas at Austin, which was designed to produce a theory and method of literacy training for the culturally different student. (CAM)