Presents an excerpt from the book, Help Wanted...Credentials Required: Community Colleges in the Knowledge Economy. States that credentials are now highly sought after by many employees, and community colleges must balance between providing a good education/training and the economic strain of doing so. Discusses changes in the trends of higher…

States that although many organizations offer training courses, they also rely on educational institutions to provide training and proper credentials. Discusses the recent demand for skills in information technology (IT) and how it has generated a wide range of courses offered by community colleges. Addresses how competency in IT is assessed, and…

Profiles four community colleges in celebration of the one hundred-year anniversary of the American Association of Community Colleges. Reports on the oldest community college, Joliet Junior College (Illinois); the newest, Cascadia Community College (Washington); the largest, Miami-Dade Community College (Florida); and the smallest, Deep Springs…

Highlights 26 American community colleges that have implemented ground-breaking programs. Describes a survey conducted to glean information from 670 colleges. Discusses projects such as the Chesapeake Area Consortium for Higher Education--a partnership between Chesapeake College (Maryland) and two other institutions--which offers Physical Therapy…

Explores the major changes occurring within present-day American community colleges and their missions, such as the increase in courses tailored to meet the needs of the workplace. Uses the experience of Montgomery College (Maryland) to offer suggestions on managing change and meeting challenges, and examples of colleges achieving success.…

Describes a study conducted by the College Board to examine what motivates adults to return to school and profile their patterns of learning as they enter and re-enter the educational system. Finds that most adults return to school to improve their careers. Forecasts the future of adult education and its implications for community colleges. (CJW)

States that community colleges have an increased need to focus on marketing their services to students in addition to providing them. Gives the example of Central Piedmont Community College's (Virginia) partnership with the local Workforce Development Board, and the competitive edge it afforded the college. Explores whether job training…

Asserts that college curricula, student activity programs, and institutional partnerships should each work toward the goal of promoting multicultural awareness. States that, as the nations of the world become more accessible to one another, students must learn to live comfortably with other peoples and cultures, and that teachers are instrumental…

States that in the last 15 years there has been dramatic change and growth in the United Kingdom's (UK) higher education system, with full-time student numbers increasing by 70% between 1989 and 1995. Discusses the system's expansion, articulation agreements, and financial and educational options for U.S. and UK students developed in the last 20…

Reports that American community and technical colleges are enrolling an increasing number of overseas students. Lists techniques for planning international student recruitment strategy, including securing a budget and paying attention to trends. Finds that electronic recruitment through a Web site is the most inexpensive and effective method. (CJW)

Reports on the Community College of Baltimore County's (Maryland) service learning program for diversity education, which is unique to American community colleges. States that students and faculty members spent two weeks in Belize, establishing a summer camp program for children to develop English skills. Asserts that volunteers benefited from the…

Focuses on the need for health and safety for participants of study-abroad programs. Lists five themes that guide the Interorganizational Task Force on Safety and Responsibility in Study Abroad's efforts to ensure student safety, including: (1) the definition of "sponsor"; and (2) the need for guidelines for advisers and partner institutions. (CJW)

States that there is increased demand from employers for graduates to have greater international knowledge. Reports that the California Community College's Chancellor's Office is currently underwriting the Global Education Network (GEN), a group of initiatives to include intercultural perspectives into the community college curricula. Lists…

Asserts that, regardless of college size and budget, an Internet presence is attainable and will help increase the quantity and quality of communication between students, staff and faculty. Adds that this elevated level of interaction should result in time savings, increased registrations, higher retention, and happier students. (NB)

Discusses Floyd College's (Georgia) Information Technology Project (ITP), which began in 1997. Reports that every student and faculty member at the college is given a laptop, network connections have been implemented all over campus, and a help desk service provides technical support. The project has been successful, but student headcount fell…