In an attempt to enroll more students and better meet their needs, an increasing number of colleges are changing their missions, their focuses — and their names. The name changes usually come with growth, according to Thomas Harnisch of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, as community colleges become state colleges, and state […]

Curtis Ivery, chancellor of Wayne County Community College District (WCCCD), has written several books and used some of the earnings from his writings to fund scholarships for WCCCD students. That’s just one expression of his personal commitment to promote what he calls the “transformational” power of education. Ivery’s most recent work, Black Fatherhood: Reclaiming Our […]

As part of the student-success agenda, community colleges are rethinking how they support their students. Many colleges are using new technologies — sometimes referred to as integrated planning and advising services (IPAS) — to improve advising and counseling. In our latest publication, Using Technology to Reform Advising: Insights from Colleges, the Community College Research Center […]

The following infographic is by Cengage Learning, which surveyed students across the country to understand their views of community college and to learn more about their experiences. More than 4,250 students participated in the Spring 2015 Student Engagement Insights survey, which yielded data for the infographic section titled “Cengage Learning Student Research.” Of those students, […]

When researchers at Howard Community College in Maryland examined the academic standing of the student body, they found the lowest levels of achievement among African-American male students who were enrolled in developmental mathematics. Concerned about those findings, administrators began discussing ways to improve outcomes for these students. After a year of research, they designed and […]

Editor’s Note: This article is the first in a two-part series on community colleges and baccalaureate programs. A decade ago, 14 states allowed their community colleges to confer baccalaureate degrees, a bold, sometimes controversial departure from the colleges’ tradition of conferring two-year associate degrees and skills-based certificates. Over the ensuing 10 years, despite opponents’ concerns […]

Students gain many valuable skills at our nation’s community colleges. From coding to creative writing, the knowledge obtained at these institutions prepares students for lifelong careers. But what good are these skills if students don’t have an understanding of how to manage the money they will be earning when they land their postgraduation jobs? In […]

Commencement: It’s both an ending and a beginning. In the community college world, commencement is the culmination of students’ challenges and victories — and the ultimate proof of completion, as they bid farewell and head into the workforce or to a four-year institution. This year was a big one for community colleges, prompted by President […]