Dale Parnell, who led the American Association of Community Colleges through the 1980s and championed the need to help all students transition better from high school to college and on to careers, passed away April 20 in his home state of Oregon. He was 88. Where his predecessor Edmund Gleazer, Jr., laid a foundation for […]
Leaders and Training Articles
Filling the leadership toolbox
As more and more community college presidents retire, it’s becoming increasingly critical for institutions to invest in leadership development. “Building a bench” of leaders isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s vital to the success of the nation’s community colleges. The number of community colleges that have created internal leadership programs for staff and faculty […]
Preparing the 21st-century president
As politics, student demographics and technology evolve, so too should the training that new college presidents need. That’s according to the Aspen Institute Task Force on the Future of the College Presidency. The group looked at what skills 21st-century college and university presidents must possess in order to be successful. “For two generations, college leaders […]
Recapping the AACC convention
Another AACC Annual Convention has drawn to a close. There was a lot going on at the convention, so here’s a quick recap of some of the highlights: At the opening session on Saturday, April 22, former second lady Dr. Jill Biden accepted AACC’s Harry S. Truman Award, presented to the administration of President Barack […]
Make the most of your convention experience
It can be overwhelming to attend the American Association of Community Colleges’ (AACC) annual convention. Here are five ways to make your convention experience more meaningful. Download the AACC convention app. The mobile app for the AACC convention is ready to download on your iPhone, iPad, or Android, directly from this link. Apple and Android […]
Telling the stories of female community college pioneers
Last year, Margot Lee Shetterly’s book Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race and the movie version captured America’s attention. But did you know that the community college movement has its own female pioneers who changed the course of our history? More than […]
Colleges cope with unexpected crises
In Seattle, the international students had just arrived at North Seattle College (NSC) in September 2015 and were preparing for their first day of class. They were on a voluntary city tour when their chartered bus was hit by a “Ride the Ducks” amphibious tour bus. Those who died ranged from one student who just […]
Opinion: Keeping the trust in PR
I’m not sure about you, but I have received a lot of questions about the practice of public relations lately. Specifically, I have been asked how I would handle having to lie to the media. Of course, I answered quickly and heartily that I would not lie to the media or to the public and I […]
Surviving a vote of no confidence
A vote of no confidence needn’t be a kiss of death anymore for a college president, according to new research and feedback from seasoned community college leaders. In fact, some of them, who have gone through the process themselves, say in certain cases it shows college boards that the CEO is willing to make tough […]
Princeton Ph.D. students sample teaching at a community college
A New Jersey community college has launched a teaching partnership with Princeton University (PU) that will provide a select group of doctoral students at the university the opportunity to learn about the college and to also teach there as adjunct instructors. Under the agreement, four Mercer County Community College faculty members are mentoring four PU […]