Falling transfer rates have been a concern among higher education experts for several years. But collaborations between community college and university systems and statewide reforms show promise in reversing declines. Nationally, the number of community college students transferring to four-year institutions fell 7.5% in fall 2022 compared to the prior year, according to a March 2023 […]
Completion Articles
Alum spotlight: Training the next generation of nurses
As a young single mother, Julia Beswick enrolled in Polk State College (Florida) with the hopes of giving her children a better life. Now as a three-time graduate of the college, Beswick is helping mold future healthcare workers and create new Polk State graduates as an adjunct professor for nursing. Beswick’s first experience at then […]
Report roundup
Here are three reports to know about this month: Leadership transitions The rate of transitions among community colleges’ top leaders has slowed since its peak seven years ago, but that may change within the next few years as a wave of presidents reach retirement age, according to a new report from the American Association of […]
Fostering Latino student success
An early childhood education program at Reading Area Community College (RACC) in Pennsylvania looks to improve the skills and successes of Latino workers in those jobs. A community health worker program at Chicago’s Richard J. Daley College aims to provide a pathway for Latino adult learners to earn a credential in the field, while also […]
Student stories: Leading the way – with help
Springfield Technical Community College’s (STCC’s) new student leaders like to be involved and take advantage of college resources to help them succeed. David Panchenko, elected president of the Massachusetts college’s Student Government Association, is the first in his family to pursue a college degree. Now entering his second year, he is active in TRIO Student […]
New center aims to bridge equity gaps
Queensborough Community College celebrated the official opening of the Queensborough Male Resource Center (QMRC) last month. The QMRC, made possible by a $450,000 grant from Robin Hood, is a landmark achievement for Queensborough, geared toward creating positive, lifechanging differences for male students, with a particular focus on self-identified Black and Latino males who experience lower retention […]
‘Discovery’ class empowers students
“The beauty of welding is that you can travel the world,” said Juanita Lopez-Escobar. “You can work anywhere if you’re a welder.” Lopez-Escobar found her true passion for welding through Portland Community College’s “Discover Manufacturing and Construction Trades” on-ramp class. Taught by Kali Giaritta, the course opened doors for Lopez-Escobar that she never thought possible. […]
Student story: Grad proves she’s a fighter, survivor
Seminole State Commits graduate Stephanie Smith is proof that with hard work and determination anything is possible. Last fall, Smith, 42, was part of the first cohort of Seminole State College of Florida students in the Seminole State Commits program to complete a pilot business certificate course at the Dr. Velma H. Williams Westside Community Center […]
Effective student success programs at community colleges can help pay for themselves
Community college administrators are better positioned than ever to make decisions about adopting programs based on their effectiveness, with a growing evidence base about interventions that increase graduation rates and put students on the track to labor market success. However, figuring out how to pay for new programs is challenging, particularly in the wake of […]
Student story: Finding a home away from home
Business, accounting and economics are his passions. Degree in hand and his future in his sights, Coconino Community College (CCC) alum, current student, accounting intern, and student affairs representative Cole Catron is set to move forward in his higher education journey. “I always wanted to do something with my life,” Catron said. “And I want […]