When I started thinking about becoming a president, I attended a leadership seminar where the keynote speaker provided words of wisdom and caution for those of us eager to advance into the role. “It is lonely at the top.” At the time, I did not realize the value of this sage advice. But today, now in […]
Leaders and Training Articles
Viewpoint: Trustee support is critical for equity-focused reforms
Higher education will play a key role in strengthening communities as we recover from the pandemic, and community college students are key to our economic prosperity. To ensure that students become the skilled workers and critical thinkers our workforce needs, boards of trustees must play a key role in policy and budget decisions that open […]
Impacting student success
When we think of what college classrooms look and sound like, we first might imagine the way movies portray them: esteemed professors lecturing to row after row of students in a large, stadium-style hall. It’s different Tarrant County College (TCC). At the Texas college, the focus is a method of education in which students actively […]
Harper’s JEDI Faculty Fellows are a force for change
When you hear the word JEDI, you might think of lightsabers and a galaxy far, far away. But Harper College’s JEDI Faculty Fellowship isn’t focused on “the force,” but being a force for change. Harper’s Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Faculty Fellowship began this fall semester as a leadership and professional development opportunity for […]
Investing in educator development
Palm Beach State College (PBSC) recently celebrated the opening of the permanent home for its Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE) at the Lake Worth campus. The center will serve as a hub for innovation, further elevate classroom instruction for students and position the college as a leader in educator development and professional learning. Staff, faculty, students, trustees […]
Flexible schedules for staff
During the height of the pandemic, remote work for community college employees was mandated. Now, the opportunity to work from home (at least part-time) is an ongoing option for some college employees. Cleveland State Community College in Tennessee offers its employees work-from-home Fridays. For the college, the change wasn’t a stretch. Even before the pandemic, […]
Icons of community service
Community service has long been one of the outstanding features of the community college. Edmund J. Gleazer, Jr., president of the American Association of Community and Junior Colleges (AACJC) — now AACC — from 1958 to 1981, had long advocated for community service as a major priority of the community college. Under his leadership, the […]
AACC accepting abstracts, award nominations for AACC Annual
It’s time to look ahead to 2023 and AACC Annual. The conference will be held April 1-4 in Denver, Colorado. The theme is “Reaching New Heights,” and AACC wants colleges to share how they are reaching new heights. Formerly known as our Call for Proposals, now is the time for colleges to submit an abstract […]
Creating civil discourse in communities
In general, communities tend to lean politically left or right, which reflects the views of most of their residents. Oregon’s Linn-Benton Community College (LBCC) pulls from both sides. Residents of Linn County lean right and support Donald Trump; the county hasn’t voted for a Democratic president since Jimmy Carter. Meanwhile, residents in Benton County — […]
Design for dual enrollment
The rise of dual-enrollment programs for high school students provides a creative opportunity for recruitment and retention at many community colleges. While many students may see these programs as a quick way to get ahead or gain some college experience, institutions can use their resources to broaden the scope of a college student-centered environment to […]