Argues that community college organization at the department level presents challenging leadership issues for the newly appointed department chair. Asserts that existing culture, which looks upon the chair with some mistrust, demands chairs who behave as peers rather than military commanders. Concludes that democratic leadership is the most…

Contends that executive-level administrators must provide strategic leadership of the institutional mission if their community colleges are to adapt and respond to learner needs. Reports that content analyses of mission statements from 102 colleges revealed seven salient themes: access, workforce and economic development, comprehensive…

Discusses risks faced by community college minority students, whose success often rests on their integration into the college environment. Argues that mentoring programs can enhance the academic and social integration of these students. Analyzes minority student perception of multilevel mentoring. (Contains 16 references.) (AUTH/NB)

Discusses the need for teachers at the elementary and secondary school levels and presents community colleges as an important source for teacher recruitment and training. Highlights some of the ways community colleges contribute to teacher education, and outlines ways to expand the future role of community colleges in teacher preparation.…

Suggests that it is appropriate to view the community college as a discourse community in its own right, and as a part of the larger discourse community of higher education. Argues that this shift in judgment might increase perceptions of community college competence, thus moving them into positions of legitimate power. (Contains 14 references.)…

Addresses the issue of global education in the community college, stating that because of the expanding global economy, community colleges must redefine their role, as well as address the need to internationalize some disciplines, institute more efficient language programs, and include more study abroad programs for both students and faculty in…

Uses the example of British polytechnic institutions' conversion into universities as a warning to the United States to avoid transforming community colleges into baccalaureate-granting institutions. Asserts that conversion places undue burdens on community colleges while altering their historic mission. (NB)

Makes a case for United States community college baccalaureate degrees by focusing on the Canadian college and university system, which allows its community colleges to grant baccalaureate degrees. Argues that more students will earn bachelors degrees at lower costs to both students and taxpayers without disrupting the community college mission.…

Argues that community college transfer mission needs to be redefined as facilitating baccalaureate degree attainment for college students in general, not just for students who begin their undergraduate education in the two-year college. Current patterns of transfer from and to the community college need to be considered. (AUTH/NB)

Stresses the need for researchers to differentiate between documented and undocumented groups when studying international students. States that undocumented students generally don't fare as well in comparisons of grade point averages and academic probations/dismissals as documented students, though they do perform better on reading and writing…

Reports findings from interviews of 22 faculty that elicited perceptions of their career paths, early-stage career roles, and the role played by faculty development. Finds that the majority chose the community college because of its emphasis on teaching and that their career roles changed over time. Makes recommendations for faculty recruitment,…

Describes strategies for promoting student success within diverse groups of learners. Discusses specific ways to develop a valuing teacher-student relationship that promotes success: getting to know students and providing structures such as individual conferences and meaningful evaluation systems can help learners to feel valued as individuals, to…

Examines three community colleges from the United States and four from Canada, using a qualitative multiple-case-study design to define changes in the colleges' institutional missions during the 1990s. Suggests that a new globally oriented vocationalism dominated the community college mission at the end of the twentieth century. (Contains 51…

Reports that studies of native and transfer students at a university indicated that lower division GPA and major were significant predictors of upper division GPA for both groups, but more so for transfers than for natives. States that, although race was not a significant predictor for transfers, it was the most significant predictor for native…

Defines critical academic skills that should be the hallmark of Kansas community college graduates, in anticipation of a legislative mandate for a common accountability measurement system. Presents five key critical competencies: oral and written communication skills, interpersonal and team skills, critical thinking and complex problem-solving…