In the first chapter of this sourcebook, one of the scenarios presented for the future urban community college was that of a "workforce development college." In this scenario, the college of the future is the primary provider of a highly educated and talented community workforce in alignment with regional employment and economic…

The completion agenda is in full force at the nation's community colleges. To maximize the impact colleges can have on improving completion, colleges must organize around using student progress and outcome data to monitor and track their efforts. Unfortunately, colleges are struggling to identify relevant data and to mobilize staff to review…

From locally focused institutions intent on access and affordability to higher education, workforce preparation, and community engagement, the contemporary community college is poised as a global partner for the democratization and development of a global workforce. In this chapter, the authors revisit the development of international education in…

The tumultuous events of the Arab Spring have challenged higher education systems throughout the Middle East and North Africa to become more responsive to citizens who are impatient for change. Community colleges in the United States can play a vital role in supporting much-needed reforms. This article looks at the possibilities and the challenges…

The origins of institutional effectiveness are traced, its evolution within community colleges is described, the use of the term "institutional effectiveness" is analyzed, and a practical, operational definition of the term is presented. The author hopes that this definition and the discussion in this article prove useful to community college…

Heightened national goals for degree attainment in the United States means increasing prominence for community colleges, which entails greater scrutiny in the form of accountability. Technology and a new generation of accountability measures appropriate to the distinctive community college mission are available to meet this challenge. This article…

Policymakers, administrators, and institutional researchers should recognize the critical stakeholders in the area of institutional effectiveness at the community college, their differences in perceptions about institutional effectiveness, and ways to negotiate these differences in perception. This article identifies the different stakeholders in…

This chapter analyzes various ways of conceptualizing the missions of the community college, describes how those missions have varied over time and across geographical regions, and examines how missions complement and conflict with one another.

This chapter describes the evolution of the workforce development mission and its current crisis in the face of changing training demands, shriveling government support, and rising competition. Two alternative future paths are outlined: a baccalaureate degree-oriented new vocationalism and a renewed emphasis on serving the training needs of…

With large numbers of underprepared students enrolling at community colleges, faculty are beginning to recognize that developmental education is a collegewide responsibility that needs to be fully integrated with the college's broader curriculum and varied missions. (Contains 1 table.)

This chapter delineates the essential elements of a framework for establishing mission priorities for community colleges. (Contains 2 figures.)

Examines the current role of community colleges in pre-service and in-service teacher education, including the development of the associate of arts degree in teacher education, the community college baccalaureate in teacher education, and alternative certification programs. Discusses factors influencing future trends and predictions about the…

States that the national teacher shortage has made it imperative for two- and four-year colleges to collaborate in facilitating transfer of education majors. Warns that the current upheaval leaves administrators, faculty, and advisers unsure of the latest information. Adds that students are vulnerable to misinformation, unsatisfactory advising,…

Describes the current teacher credentialing situation in California, the community college Teacher and Reading Development Partnership (TRDP) program, and six California community college programs dedicated to the elimination of an acute teacher shortage. Reports that, by targeting the state's community colleges as the future educational outlets…

Discusses the development of the Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) degree in Maryland, which represents an outcomes-based, statewide articulation of the two-year degree in elementary education to public and private four-year institutions. States that if the AAT degree works in all iterations, it will serve as a national model for collaboration…