This article reviews the existing literature on the economic and other benefits of attending community college. First, the article reports on the earnings gains across all students and reviews the evidence for subgroups by gender, minority status, and credits accumulated. The article then reviews the methodological challenges associated with…

This is a review of evidence for contextualization, defined here as an instructional approach connecting foundational skills and college-level content. Two forms of contextualization are identified, "contextualized" and "integrated" instruction. Despite methodological limitations, the available studies suggest that contextualization has the…

This article--the first in the Council for the Study of Community Colleges (CSCC) Review Essays Series--reviews the literature concerning education-abroad opportunities for community college students. The article examines the benefits accrued to students through overseas study, briefly notes the history of education-abroad programs, and summarizes…

Raymond J. Young (1923-2007) played a key role in the post-World War II development of community colleges in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and elsewhere. This article describes his scholarly and professional contributions in developing "bottom-up," grassroots citizen's participatory studies that led to the establishment of 60 community colleges in 33…

This review of existing literature about community college faculty members speculates about why they have received so little scholarly attention, summarizes the nature of existing research, including its methodology and topics, and suggests what else needs to be known about them. (Contains 1 table.)

Arthur M. Cohen and his colleagues at the Center for the Study of Community Colleges have made significant and broad contributions to the scholarly literature and empirical research about community colleges. Although Cohen's interests are comprehensive and his writings touch on multiple issues associated with community colleges, his empirical work…

Reviews the literature on faculty evaluation to define how different purposes and competing values have produced two approaches. A procedural approach relies upon both self-evaluation and appraisals by peers, administrators, and students. The developmental approach rests upon teaching portfolios, dossiers, and self-evaluations. Contains 23…

Examines information about honors programs and curricula in 38 community colleges. Explains why colleges have honors programs, what their goals are, and how they accomplish them. Honors programs encourage excellence but need balanced evaluative studies to succeed. Contains 51 references. (KC)

Uses meta-ethnography to analyze the literature on transformational leadership, including sources specifically related to community colleges. Identifies the following themes, patterns, and connections that define transformational leadership: Creating a shared vision, communicating that vision, building relationships, developing a culture, guiding…

Reviews the current community college literature by author group, focusing on the writings of faculty, researchers, state agencies, national associations, university professors, and journalists. Examines the ability of the literature to critically evaluate the meaning and purpose of the community college as a social institution. Calls for a more…

Reviews ERIC database literature since the late 1980s regarding the pros and cons of employing part-time faculty in community colleges. Though much of the literature focuses on the negative aspects of employing part-time faculty, the author argues that they are valuable participants in higher learning, both for economic and pedagogical reasons.…

Examines some historical perspectives related to the preparation and development of community college faculty. Suggests that current methods of faculty training must develop in accordance with changing student populations, advancing technology, and changing educational ideologies. Contains 34 references. (JDI)

Presents a review of current ERIC documents concerning student assessment practices at community colleges and related issues. Discusses external pressures and challenges for assessment, frameworks and techniques in use, and the importance of recognizing student diversity and maintaining institutional support for assessment efforts. (44 citations)…

Reviews recent research on the characteristics of reverse transfer students. Reverse transfer students are defined, their reasons for reverse transfer are discussed, and their academic activities and achievements are noted. Suggestions for additional research in this area are presented. (Author/JDS)

A review of the development and anticipated expansion of noncampus community colleges. Areas discussed include: activities and functions, students, enrollment patterns, part-time instructors, the colleges' methods of coping with inadequacies, and major concerns facing the noncampus colleges. (JDS)