Community colleges, which serve almost half of postsecondary students in the United States, are receiving ever-increasing attention from policymakers and researchers. Although these institutions have always served a wide range of people in their communities, the number of students who enter community college requiring additional preparation before…

Over the past few decades, community colleges have helped increase the representation of female and minority students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Flexible schedules, low tuition, proximity to jobs, and open access admissions make community colleges attractive to a diverse student body, especially…

Although work-family balance policies are slowly becoming the norm at four-year institutions, they are not equally common at community colleges. In part, this discrepancy is due to the cost of providing assistance to faculty. Unlike community colleges, research institutions tend to have sufficient resources to offer accommodations for faculty,…

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 state, "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance". This provision paved the way for student-initiated lawsuits…

The chapters in this volume review a variety of issues regarding gender at community colleges. The context of higher education provides the backdrop for how community college leaders and campus members see the issues they face and how they begin to make meaning of their location and experiences on campus. There is a wide variety of circumstances…

This article presents a study that uses iterative searches of literature, guided by data from campus observations, interviews, and surveys, to locate and test a theory that can be used to strengthen institutional leverage over student engagement and outcomes. A review of literature was conducted to frame a preliminary theoretical framework for…

Although most community colleges do not have on-campus housing, many rural two-year colleges do. Relying on federal institutional survey data, this chapter discusses issues related to the operation of residence halls and implications for both students and rural community college leaders. The chapter concludes with recommendations for policy and…

Considers the impact of state power and authority on community college governance. Traces the trend toward increased state influence over institutional decisions in California and Florida. Looks at implications for the future. (DMM)

Addresses the issue of current and emerging models of faculty and student participation in community college governance. Describes the functional, coordinated systems, and rewards/incentive models of participation. Argues for decision-making processes that fully use the resource potential of faculty and students. (DMM)

Explores the roles of community college trustees and how and why these roles have changed in the past decade. Examines the external pressures that affect the behavior of boards of trustees and the relationship between boards and chief executive officers. (DMM)

Traces collective bargaining's growth in community colleges. Identifies trends toward increasing emphasis on governance in contract negotiations and toward separating governance issues from economic issues in the bargaining process. Considers the relationship between faculty senates and unions and explores alternative bargaining approaches. Offers…

Reviews some of the implications of the changing environment in which multiunit community colleges have operated since 1975, giving special attention to the chararacteristics and evolution of the current governance system at Florida Junior College. Suggests approaches to improve governance. (DMM)

Argues that the issues and trends of the past decade make it necessary to reconsider governance processes and the way substantive issues are generated. Reviews major models for governance and proposes a broader, more integrated framework for analyzing governance issues. (DMM)

Calls for more effective management of the governance process. Reviews models of governance systems and offers suggestions for effective governance. Includes a checklist of questions to be asked of those responsible for governance systems in community colleges. (DMM)

Reviews ERIC literature on the development of participatory governance structures in community colleges that secure the participation of students, faculty, staff, and other campus constituencies and the growth of state authority at the expense of local autonomy. (DMM)