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ERIC Number: EJ1092433
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013
Pages: 7
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1067-1803
EISSN: N/A
Reimagining the Student Experience: The Challenge of Transformational Change
McClenney, Kay; Dare, Donna
Community College Journal, v84 n1 p40-46 Aug-Sep 2013
A strong case can and should be made--and subject to campus discussion--that community colleges should care deeply about increasing college completion; why doing so requires a fundamental redesign of students' educational experiences; and the reasons why the conceptual notion of academic and career pathways is gaining support from researchers and practitioners as a means of increasing student success. The American middle class is shrinking, average income has been declining, and the nation's level of educational attainment is losing ground relative to other developed countries, while inequities in attainment across racial, ethnic, and income groups remain an urgent concern. Because a highly educated population is fundamental to economic growth and a vibrant democracy, community colleges can help reclaim that dream. Stepping up to this challenge will require dramatic redesign of these institutions, their mission, and, most critically, their students' educational experiences. To accomplish meaningful change, every college needs to engage constituent groups in thoughtful discussion about the condition of the nation and the local community, the college's data about student outcomes and persistent inequities, the evidence pointing to the importance of clear pathways for students, and the challenges of transformational change. A number of these challenges are discussed in this article. This is the final article in a three-part series on reimagining the community college student experience. The first article, "Premise and Promise: Developing New Pathways for Community College Students" (April/May 2013), describes a new model for academic pathways. The second, "Designing New Academic Pathways: Reimagining the Community College Experience With Students' Needs and Best Interests at Heart" (June/July 2013), offers design principles and examples from colleges leading the way.
American Association of Community Colleges. One Dupont Circle NW Suite 410, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 202-728-0200; Fax: 202-833-2467; Web site: http://www.aacc.nche.edu/bookstore
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Two Year Colleges; Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A