Asserts that universal educational opportunity is essential to the achievement of peace and prosperity. Refutes the premise that there is no time for humanities instruction in two-year college vocational programs. Argues that well-planned and well-presented humanities instruction in programs for technicians can lead to lifelong learning after…

Describes a study of community college presidents' roles and responsibilities, using structured observations of five presidents at work, a method utilized by Mintzberg (1968) to study chief executive officers (CEOs) of various organizations. Reports findings in terms of Mintzberg's taxonomy of roles and tasks. Contrasts presidents with Mintzberg's…

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…

Describes a collaborative program initiated by Evergreen State College and Seattle Central Community College in Washington to promote faculty revitalization, curricular reform, and interinstitutional articulation. Examines the new curriculum of Seattle Central, as an intentionally designed "learning community," structured to sustain academic…

Offers a case study of a focus group project involving unstructured, individual and indepth interviews with nontraditional community college students. Explains the theory of qualitative research behind focus groups, reasons for selecting this methodology, the process for conducting focus groups, and ways to deal effectively with atypical focus…

Reports on a study to determine and analyze the most predominant mode of governance in community colleges as perceived by college presidents, deans, chairpersons, and faculty. Includes a literature review, a discussion of the use of the "transformational model" as the study's theoretical framework, and suggestions for further research. (CBC)

Traces the current status of the community college academic curriculum through data from several national studies conducted by the Center for the Study of Community Colleges over the past 10 years. Sees the Humanities, Sciences, Fine Arts, Mathematics, and English Composition as the academic disciplinary core of the collegiate curriculum. (CBC)

Considers the implications of "Academic Preparation for College" and "Teaching for Transition from High School to College" for community colleges. Suggests that four-year colleges will respond by reevaluating the transferability of community college courses and that a liberal arts curriculum is the best approach to basic skills instruction. (CBC)

Reviews the strengths and weaknesses of the Nelson-Denny Reading Test (NDRT) and compares the use and misuse of the test as revealed through published surveys. Finds problems in the use of the NDRT to diagnose the specific reading needs and deficiencies of low-achieving students and to measure individual growth. (CBC)

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)

Discusses the method, procedures, and results of a survey concerning the role and responsibilities of two-year college coordinators of services to handicapped students. Identifies the types of students served, services and information provided, sources of program funding, and appropriate capacities for offices of handicapped services. (CBC)

Discusses the ways early childhood programs presently fit into community colleges, describes five related issues (i.e., the ambiguities of the early childhood field, the open-door policy, faculty responsibilities, power structures, and funding), and makes suggestions for further development of the community college/early childhood relationship.…

Stresses the importance of evaluating occupational programs on a regular basis. Offers a brief explanation of the approaches to program evaluation taken at the Dallas County Community College District (TX), South Puget Sound Community College (WA), and Triton College (IL). Offers a list of references on program evaluation. (CBC)

Offers a brief description of the low-budget, intramural athletic program of Pasco-Hernando Community College. Looks at ways in which the program budget is kept low; i.e., to approximately $12,000 per campus per year. (CBC)