Linda L. García never imagined she would one day lead the Center for Community College Student Engagement (CCCSE). In fact, she never dreamed of earning a doctoral degree. As children, Linda and her siblings constantly heard from their parents--a father who grew up as a migrant worker and a mother who immigrated to the United States from…

This issue of "New Directions" provides an overview of the increasing numbers of students who are experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity, and food insecurity. College presidents are in a unique position to lead campus efforts to identify students in need and to develop strategies for supporting this increasing, often invisible,…

To better understand the influence of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) competencies on practice since their formation, six community college chief executive officers (five presidents and one chancellor) were asked to reflect upon the enduring relevance of the competencies. They were also asked specifically how they acquired…

Given the variety of student intents, programs, pathways, and courses offered at a given community college, it is almost impossible for community colleges to provide general information to all prospective students about how to prepare for all the courses offered. But if community colleges seek to help students reach their goals, they must improve…

More than a decade ago, community colleges across the nation mobilized legions of faculty to craft critical thinking initiatives on their campus. Were these initiatives simply the latest educational fad, or did the implementation provoke substantive, lasting changes not only in what we teach but in how we teach?

This chapter summarizes useful and relevant resources and information on the topic of serving minority populations in community colleges, and presents information about several programs and services that have been successful in ensuring minority student success.

Not so long ago, the word "fundraising" scarcely made an appearance in the community college lexicon. Now, as our society moves from the industrial age to the information age, it can be considered part of a wave of change flooding across the community college movement, with clear implications for how community colleges teach, reach, and lead. In…