Community colleges have been in existence for over 100 years in the United States. They began by offering the first two years of undergraduate education for students in local communities. Over the decades they evolved into comprehensive institutions of higher education with a multi-faceted mission. Today, in an era of accountability and mistrust…

Diversifying the faculty in community colleges, especially with faculty of color, continues to be problematic as we move through the first decade of the 21st Century. National statistics show that overwhelmingly the faculty continues to be Caucasian, even at a time when more and more students are coming from diverse ethnic backgrounds. This…

Recent efforts to improve developmental education have included references to learning communities as examples of effective practices in basic skills education. The study "Basic skills as a foundation for student success in California community colleges" (2007) cited research from Tinto that suggested that learning communities and…

This investigation was a case study to measure the retention and persistence effects of a learning community in developmental English at an urban community college. The study used student demographic and course outcome data to quantify the extent to which learning community participation could contribute toward remedying the historically low…

California community colleges are experiencing unprecedented levels of sanctions from their accrediting agency. A survey of planners in these colleges reveals a wide gap between current practice and perceived importance of integrated planning practices, as well as misalignment in budgeting methods. Statistically significant gaps were identified…

This examination of the current status of multicultural education among California community colleges emerged from a perspective that the inclusion of multicultural education has become a major goal of California's leaders within the past five years. The literature revealed minority students tend to have lower retention rates because they become…

Lower division transfer preparation for the university has been the primary mission of community colleges since their inception creating an important pathway to baccalaureate degree attainment for many students who may not otherwise have the opportunity for higher education. Once considered fairly straightforward, the transfer pathway has become…

Considers reasons for new college-community cooperation and forces within and external to community colleges that will be supportive of or resistant to the approach. (DMM)

Due to the instability of state funding, California's community colleges have turned to the foundation as a source of alternative fundraising and resource development. To gather data on the foundations in place at California community colleges, a survey was conducted of 50 foundation directors, focusing on how their foundations raised money, what…

Details findings of a 1983 survey conducted to provide a demographic and political profile of trustees representing the 39 Illinois community college districts. Finds trustees' seats dominated by politically conservative, middle- and upper-middle-class White males, although recent trends are toward more female, minority, aggressive, visible, and…

Discusses results of a study of economic development programs within community colleges in Illinois and Arizona. Finds agreement that colleges' responsibilities include initial contact with business and industry, developing training programs specifically for companies, and marketing programs and services to business. Briefly describes cooperative…

Presents a rationale for a reassessment of general education. Provides and illustrates a General Education Program Schematic which includes eight concerns: student learning objectives, interdisciplinary approaches, team teaching, community involvement, career awareness, basic business education, computer literacy, and independent study. (AYC)

Investigates student learning experiences in courses with multicultural and diversity content and finds that community college students desire this kind of course content. Students want to learn more about diversity than what frequently is associated with "culture." Information concerning gender, sexual orientation, ageism, classism, and…

Describes a study that investigated demographic changes in the community college presidency at 71 districts and 42 campuses from 1975 to 1995. Indicates that the number of women presidents has tripled since 1975, and the number of minority presidents has doubled. Contains two figures and 16 references. (JDI)