Everyone who works in a community college knows that the only authentic measure of a college’s success is the success of its students. And despite the truly significant contributions these institutions already are making to their communities and country, it is evident that we are falling short. College completion rates are unacceptably low. Achievement gaps […]
Mission and Values Articles
More Colleges Consider Dropping ‘Community’ from Their Names
Is there such a thing as a two-year education? That’s the question administrators at a handful of U.S. community colleges must consider as they debate whether to drop the word “community” from their institutions’ names. It wouldn’t be the first time the issue has been on the table. As recently as a few years ago, […]
A Move Toward Competency-Based Education
It was Aristotle who said, “What we have to learn to do, we learn by doing.” Hands-on learning has been a big part of the community college culture for as long as there have been community colleges. Our institutions don’t merely prepare students to sit around and talk smart; they also provide the skills and […]
Should Presidential Pay Be Tied to Student Performance?
John O’Donnell makes a comfortable salary as president of Massachusetts Bay Community College (MassBay). Now, thanks to a new statewide initiative, he’ll be able to earn even more, depending on how his students perform. And he’s not alone. Across the country, colleges are considering ways to link presidential pay to student success. Performance-based pay: How’s […]
Here to Stay? More Colleges Invest in Student Housing
Used to be that when students talked about packing up and moving away to college, they meant to a four-year school. Community colleges were viewed almost exclusively as commuter institutions; most didn’t even have dormitories. But that landscape is changing. Administrators are considering ways to redesign the community college experience in order to meet students’ […]