Elizabeth Martinez repeatedly sees the “aha! moment” light up the eyes of program participants, when feelings of self-doubt are overridden by the recognition of possibility. It’s a feeling some haven’t experienced in a long time. Martinez is a career skills coach for students with an interest in getting their commercial driver’s license, an industry with […]
Completion Articles
25-year-old BC3 program sets records
Teacher Jim Murphy says Butler County Community College (BC3) courses instructed at DuBois Central Catholic High School in Clearfield County accommodate his students’ “desire to talk about ideas.” Teacher Jennine Gleghorn says that because BC3 courses are taught at Mohawk High in Lawrence County, the setting affords her students “a better opportunity to adjust to […]
Open, affordable and stackable
Henry Gage was working at Target during Covid — one of the few places open during the pandemic at the time — when he decided it was time for a change. Gage was ready to dive into the information technology (IT) field — he would often help family members troubleshoot their computers — so he […]
Black Student Success Week gets system-wide support in California
Community colleges across California participated in a week’s worth of advocacy and celebration in recognition of Black Student Success Week, held from April 24-28. Now in its fourth year, Black Student Success Week expanded its offerings and resources beyond those that serve practitioners and policymakers to include current and prospective community college students. More than […]
A unique college-social services collaboration
Thirty-six-year-old Harry C. was born and raised in New York City. Like millions of other New Yorkers before him, he made some mistakes as a young adult. He later found his way to the social services agency Project Renewal, a citywide organization that helps individuals impacted by homelessness, substance use, mental illness and/or justice system […]
Eliminating language barriers in the hospitality industry
The Community College of Denver (CCD) and the Hispanic Restaurant Association have partnered together to create the Food and Beverage Language Institute (FBLI). This joint program will deliver language-based training for employees in the hospitality and food and beverage industries in Colorado. With more than 60% of non-native English speakers working in the food and beverage […]
Students excel in dual-language biology course
The scientific method, cell structure, cellular respiration, photosynthesis, mitosis and meiosis, DNA structure. These are some of the complex topics taught in Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) professor Emmanuel Santa-Martinez’s biology classes; topics that are even tougher to grasp if you are an English learner. “I saw that Latinx students in the intro to biology […]
Mother, daughter earn same degree 20 years apart
In 2002, an expectant Lora Smith crossed the stage to receive an associate degree in surgical technology at Central Ohio Technical College (COTC). These days the associate professor sits amongst the college’s faculty watching “her kids” in the surgical technology program graduate. But in December 2022, this phrase took on a literal meaning as Lydia […]
A STEP above
Portland Community College alum Dwayne Friedman spent his childhood hopping from motel to motel, Vegas to Detroit, with his single mother who dropped-out of high school at 15. “I grew up underprivileged, not knowing my biological father or other family,” he said. “I was always the new kid in school moving and moving.” But there […]
N.C. college launches textbook rental program
Wake Tech Community College students will enjoy a major cost saving this fall: free books. The announcement comes as the North Carolina college transitions to a new program with its bookstore, Barnes & Noble College. The “Eagle Advantage” pilot program will allow students in degree programs to pay a flat fee to rent their textbooks […]