This paper introduces the problem of constructing a methodology to develop a cybersecurity program. The goal of the program is to prepare students graduating from an accredited two-year college for success in cybersecurity careers. Several challenges must be addressed such as program accreditation, workforce development, pedagogy, existing…

"Classroom to Career" is an accredited experiential learning method that community college students can use to build their career paths. Experiential learning curriculum courses provide students with the exposure they need to shift from undergraduate instruction and enhance their learning and employment outcomes to gain an Associate of…

In 2004, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools -- Commission on Colleges, (SACSCOC) required a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) for accredited postsecondary education institutions as part of the decennial reaffirmation process. The goal of any QEP is to improve student success. However, little evidence exists regarding the effectiveness…

This chapter describes the role of faculty in conducting quality assessment and includes suggestions for preparing for successful meetings with reviewers on accreditation teams.

Accreditation, an external form of quality review of higher education institutions and programs, plays a vital role in a college or university, including community colleges. For community college trustees, awareness of and insight into the role, purpose and impact of accreditation is part of effectively carrying out board leadership. Whether…

Higher education in the United States is regulated by a triad of the federal government, state governments, and private accreditors. Rather than relying on bureaucrats to ensure quality, federal policy defers such assurance to accrediting agencies. This empowers accreditors to determine which colleges can access financial aid and establishes their…

Credentialing programs in the U.S. are many and varied: Degrees, professional certifications, digital badges, and licenses to practice all serve as potential pathways to employment for would-be workers. However, those many approaches can also result in confusion for employers, colleges, and students when drilling down into how credentials…

Emblematic of democratic principles and composed of diverse people and cultures, the California community colleges are a confederation of 114 accredited campuses. Accreditation is a quality assurance conventionalism reflective of American values and ideologies and provides a stamp of approval to ensure public confidence in the virtues of the…

Purpose: Academics and administrators frequently lament the bureaucracy in higher education, which diverts attention from teaching and research. Heightened monitoring of institutions as a result of dominant neoliberal ideologies shapes perceptions of accreditation as a bureaucratic burden rather than a value-added tool for continuous quality…

This first Data Note on the "Scaling Community College Baccalaureate Degrees: The Equity Imperative" research project provides baseline information on relatively new forms of baccalaureate degrees, Applied Baccalaureate (AB) and Community College Baccalaureate (CCB), the reasons colleges adopt these degrees, and the concerns identified…

The author examines the process for applying for National Association for Development Education (NADE) accreditation. The multi-year process began when the English faculty of the community college she works at reviewed data from the National Community College Benchmark Project. The data showed low success rates and poor persistence from…

With the majority of "good jobs" that pay a family-sustaining wage requiring at least some college education -- such as a technical certificate, associate degree, bachelor's degree or another credential of value -- ensuring the existence of high-quality postsecondary CTE [Career Technical Education] programs and programs of study is more…

Ohio's decision to let community colleges award four-year degrees is part of a growing national trend. When this article went to press, more than 90 community colleges across 19 states offered active four-year degree programs. Counting New York's Fashion Institute of Technology, which technically is a community college, but offers degrees as high…

Community colleges are continually being faced with pressures to use data to inform decisions. These pressures arise from a triage of factors, including accountability, accreditation, and student success initiatives. Yet, as these demands continue, research has shown that community colleges struggle to institutionalize data-informed decision…

California's students have generally been making slow gains on nationally representative tests over the better part of the last 10 years. While these improvements are important, the gaps between subgroups of students are large and overall achievement places California in the lowest 10 percent of states (NCES, 2015). Given that teachers matter more…