Transfer agreements between community colleges and four-year institutions aren’t new. But community colleges and universities are expanding and strengthening partnerships to meet the needs of both students and employers. At Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC), 50% of transfer students transfer within the University of Wisconsin (UW) system, and 50% of those students transfer to UW-Green […]
Completion Articles
African American Male Scholars Initiative boosts outcomes
The African American Male Scholars Initiative (AAMSI) at Greenville Technical College (South Carolina) celebrated achievements of the group’s members in an awards presentation on May 4. Among the awards presented were 22 special AAMSI jackets, given to students who earned 1,000 or more engagement points. These points were achieved by participating in activities including program […]
Answering the call for OER
When the state began to push back against college textbook prices, Ohio colleges and universities got innovative. In 2017, “We were seeing in Ohio an atmosphere where the public was attacking higher ed textbook costs,” said Jack Hershey, president and CEO of the Ohio Association of Community Colleges (OACC) during a session at the AACC […]
Student story: Gaining confidence to continue
Following his high school graduation, Alikhan Fidai had his education and career all planned out. In 2014, the Midwest native enrolled at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a top-tier public research university, to study chemical engineering. It was the fulfillment of a long-held dream, both for Fidai and for his parents. “After immigrating from […]
Opening the door to more degree options
Students in the East Central College, Jefferson College and Mineral Area College districts now have access to more degree options without additional costs. That’s thanks to a new “Beyond Boundaries” partnership which allows for students in those neighboring districts to work toward a degree in select programs at in-district tuition costs. The agreement — signed […]
Nursing escape room helps students hone skills
When Mesa Community College (Arizona) nursing students go into the simulation lab, it can be quite nerve-racking. During the past year, Interim Nursing Department Chair and Nursing Simulation Coordinator Diana Breed, who’s been teaching for the past 20 years, noticed students’ anxiety level climbing more than usual. “They go there to apply the knowledge they […]
Igniting a path to higher education
A transformative donation to Harper College is now transforming lives. In 2021, the Illinois college received an $18 million gift from philanthropist Mackenzie Scott. A month after that donation, Harper College launched the Igniting Paths to Success Scholarship with the goal of helping 1,000 students from the community access and prioritize higher education. The scholarship […]
Program expands access to college for high school students
In Oklahoma, location is no longer a problem for high school students wanting to take college courses. Tulsa Community College (TCC) is launching High School Plus One across Oklahoma providing virtual college courses for eligible high school juniors and seniors beginning Fall 2022. This means high school students can complete an entire year of college, […]
Building a solid foundation
When Sauk Valley Community College was founded in 1965, the Sauk Valley College Foundation was simultaneously established alongside it as an independent 501(c)(3). The college’s founders had the foresight to know that philanthropy would be critical to building a college-going culture in the rural northwestern Illinois community it served. By the time David Hellmich became […]
Out of the shadows
On the first day of spring classes, Joan Barrett was walking around the Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC) campus as usual, greeting students and making sure they knew where to go. It’s what Barrett, the vice chancellor for student affairs, does at the beginning of every academic term. But this wasn’t an ordinary start to […]