Offers background information about a report developed by a state-appointed committee concerning the mission, governance, and financing of the Maryland community colleges in light of current trends and future needs. Highlights major recommendations. (DMM)

Discusses major obstacles to excellence in community colleges: failure to develop adequate means for systematic, periodic, performance appraisal; failure to evaluate individual courses and programs periodically and systematically; failure to commit adequate time and resources to continued personnel development; lack of an adequate decision-making…

Reviews concepts of effectiveness appearing in the literature as a context for discussion of changes necessary as community colleges move from concern with enrollments to outcomes. Defines alternatives open to colleges in terms of organizational culture. Identifies five strategies used by colleges in pursuit of increased effectiveness. (DMM)

Describes an ED QUEST (Quick Environmental Scanning Technique) workshop demonstrating the links between an environmental scanning/forecasting process and formulation of institutional strategy. Explains ED QUEST's use in identifying and analyzing critical trends and events, and identifying the nature of the organization; developing alternative…

Addresses the imperative for strategic and tactical planning to support the viability of the two-year college. Describes a process for approaching strategic planning, comprising the following steps: self-identification, self-analysis, analysis of service area, informed decision making, and the development of a marketing plan. (CBC)

Describes Linn-Benton Community College's efforts to develop priority-based contingency plans for a reduced budget using information provided by division directors on their program's relationship to college mission, instructional costs, graduates' employment outlook, follow-up data, enrollments, sunk costs and other areas. Reviews staff reactions…

Looks at the ways in which the deregulation of business and industry may affect community colleges in the years ahead, using the banking industry as an illustration. Argues that the deregulation of higher education requires that community college leadership programs examine past assumptions and develop new strategies. (LAL)

Provides a review and critique of current institutional approaches to quality and offers suggestions for the enhancement of quality in the two-year college through self-assessment and program design encompassing inputs, outcomes, the educational process, and the integrality of these concepts. (AYC)

Suggests a comprehensive planning process for consolidating existing computer resources and acquiring new resources. Considers components of the academic computing plan--development of instructional goals and objectives; computing requirements of teachers and students; accessibility, security, and data communications; development of support…

Reviews the development of a successful experimental college. Areas discussed include: college goals, a systems approach to instruction, grading, student achievement and persistence, and community reaction. Reasons for institutional success are offered and suggestions for improvement presented. (Author/JDS)

If community colleges are to gain the respect of the state, and thereby to free themselves from its debilitating and stultifying bureaucracy, the students, faculty, administrators, and trustees of each college must band together and demonstrate their strength by living in accord, planning carefully and intelligently, and by showing that they know…

Examines planning considerations for community colleges and faculty related to fiscal constraints, the changing student population, vocational versus general education, and collective bargaining. Describes a study of 198 community college faculty members' career satisfaction and familiarity with and use of professional development options. (DMM)

Describes steps and considerations for developing a plan to consolidate existing computer-related resources and acquire new resources. Covers the preliminary planning process and purposes, institutional commitment, resource support, control issues, administrative and academic needs, faculty involvement and incentives. (LL)

Argues that community college survival requires reliable information about environmental factors, trends, and changes. Reviews the use of strategic planning and change strategies. Considers the best way to organize an information-gathering unit, where to place it in the school's organizational structure, and how to staff it. (WL)

Analyzes the major factors in the failure of student retention programs in community colleges by using an eight-phase hypothetical retention model which is compared with 18 principles of planned change. Concludes with generalizations and explanations for retention program weaknesses. (WL)