Accustomed to budgeting hundreds of dollars for textbooks each semester, Ana Andrade found a nice surprise in her inbox after registering for fall 2020 classes. The simple message from her instructor: No need to purchase the official textbook because a free online resource is offered. Since fall 2017 when the zero-cost textbook program known as […]
Completion Articles
Connecting to a learning community
At age 17, Tyler White wondered if she’d ever find success in college. The Laurel, Md., resident struggled with her grades throughout high school and often kept to herself, despite having a genuine interest in helping others. Then one day, during her senior year, she attended a presentation about Howard Community College’s (HCC’s) Silas Craft Collegians […]
Affording life with Life Gap Plus
At the Community College of Vermont (CCV), student success is a priority for staff and faculty. Students like Amanda Reid also share this goal. “I’ve always been a people person. Helping people has always been my thing,” she said. As a community health worker at a doctor’s office, Amanda is able to help people with […]
CCIC opens opportunities for participants
Participating in the Community College Innovation Challenge (CCIC) has moved the lives of some community college alumni in very impressive directions. The American Association of Community Colleges, in partnership with the National Science Foundation, is again offering community college students the opportunity to discover and demonstrate their capacity to use science, technology, engineering and mathematics […]
Dedicated support for diverse students
As part of a campus-wide commitment to support historically minoritized and marginalized students, Berkshire Community College (BCC) recently created the Multicultural Affairs, Diversity and Engagement (MADE) Center. Funded by a SUCCESS (Supporting Urgent Community College Equity through Student Services) grant through the college, the MADE Center will offer academic and social support services for all […]
Personalized coaching for personalized success
Montgomery College (MC) adjunct professor Silas Burris has an interesting metaphor for describing his recent experience as an embedded Achieving the Promise Academy coach: “The course is the planet, and I am a satellite that is always circling. I’m always there, but I am a whole different experience.” Burris has been teaching general psychology and […]
New childcare option for student parents
Holyoke Community College (HCC) will soon introduce a free, drop-in child-watch program for parents who need safe and affordable supervision for their children while they tend to their college studies. When the Itsy Bitsy Child Watch opens in March, HCC will be just the second community college in Massachusetts to offer a child watch service […]
Getting a fresh restart
More older students are starting or restarting their education at Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC), with enrollment for ages 30 and older 14% above pre-pandemic levels, as adult learners take advantage of state tuition-free programs. Enrollment for all students this semester is 1.1% above the Winter 2021 semester, with 11,442 people enrolled in credit-seeking programs. The […]
Report roundup
Here are three reports to check out this month. The latest data from National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) Research Center confirm the continued drop of students attending community college during the Covid pandemic, though at a much lower rate. The NSC Research Center report also supports a promising sign: Enrollment of first-time freshmen at public two-year […]
Building positive momentum for Latino students
Excelencia in Education awards the Seal of Excelencia certification each year to higher education institutions with an unwavering commitment to intentionally serve Latino students. This year, 10 institutions earned the Seal, joining 14 other institutions that have earned the certification since 2018. “These Seal certified institutions have been able to articulate and demonstrate they are […]