At the recent College and Career EXPO hosted by College of the Sequoias (COS), high school students in California’s Central Valley had a chance to compete in hands-on events that tested the technical skills needed in certain careers. Students interested in a career in construction technology were given a pile of lumber and a blueprint, […]

Middle College programs, which allow qualified high school students to simultaneously work toward a diploma and a certificate or associate degree by completing a 13th year of high school, have been a big win for students, colleges and industry partners across the country. That’s certainly been the case for Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC), in […]

A year ago, the Texas state legislature passed a bill that opened the door for increased dual-enrollment opportunities for high school students. Charlotte Twardowski, director of educational services and partnerships at Lone Star College-North Harris, couldn’t be more pleased. This spring, 3,755 high school students were enrolled at her campus through the dual-credit program. “We […]

For data on how to improve completion rates, going straight to the source — students — can be a smart move. In 2008, as part of a mandated quality enhancement plan (QEP), Wallace Community College (WCC) in Alabama surveyed students about their top concerns. The college learned that math was the biggest deterrent to graduation. […]

Last year, Aiken Technical College, in South Carolina, launched an initiative with the Aiken County Public School District to increase the number of Aiken County residents with a postsecondary credential. Since 2014, the program, called Within Reach, has resulted in nearly a 20 percent increase in enrollment of students at Aiken Tech directly from high […]

At the DREAM 2016 Summit in Atlanta in February, Achieving the Dream’s (ATD) CEO Karen Stout announced a new partnership with Hobsons, joining forces to find better ways to support students throughout their academic careers. These powerhouses will co-host two “Learning to Life Pathway Workshops,” uniting K–12 superintendents, community college and four-year university presidents and […]

This article, by Ellie Ashford, originally appeared in the Community College Daily. Gateway Technical College (GTC) in Wisconsin may be the new poster child for the free community college movement. On Thursday, the college announced that SC Johnson — the maker of consumer products such as Windex, Ziploc and Raid, among others — would donate […]

The following article originally was published at Community College Daily. Community college leaders should worker closer with K-12 and develop strategies to help increase college readiness and success, according to a new report. The study — developed by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), the Association of Community College Trustees and Higher Ed for […]

In 2007, leaders in St. Clair, Michigan, hired a national consultant to help develop a strategic plan to tackle economic and social issues affecting the region. The plan, Blue Meets Green, includes a specific goal to reach students earlier and help them create better pathways to meaningful careers. The College and Career Readiness System helps […]

According to a recent Illinois State Board of Education report, nearly half of the state’s high school graduates who enroll in state community colleges need to take developmental courses. This doesn’t come as a surprise to Jason Evans, professor of developmental writing and English at Prairie State College, in Chicago Heights. But student preparedness is […]