This document provides an overview and summary of the findings of 14 separate studies conducted as part of a project to evaluate the impact of the nine British Columbia community colleges with respect to students, the higher education system, and the community at large. In the course of the four-year project, data were gathered on academic ability…

Describes a study of variance in the innovative activities of 15 Canadian community colleges and the correlation between organizational characteristics and institutional innovativeness. Innovativeness varied among institutions, and an inverse relationship existed between centralized authority and innovation. Findings regarding innovation in the…

A study of Canadian community college goals as perceived by their chief executive officers and the provincial personnel responsible for college development shows continued emphasis on early development goals and goals reflecting provincial differences in priorities. In general, the results show diversity in community college role and contribution.…

British Columbia's community colleges' university transfer programs provide the opportunity for students to earn credits toward a university degree, but only a small percentage of these students actually transfer to a university. A study of students who complete transfer courses, but do not continue their study, is discussed. (Author/MLW)

A study examined the extent to which Canada's community colleges have retained their 1960s founding principles in adapting to economic and socio-political change of the 1980s. It found much of the original idealism and innovation, but also several diverse ways of adjusting and a variety of techniques for managing those changes. (MSE)

In Fall 1980, a follow-up survey was conducted of students who had graduated, withdrawn from or otherwise left career/technical programs at British Columbia's 14 community colleges and institute of technology. The study sought to determine: (1) why students undertook career/technical programs; (2) if and for what reasons students failed to…

A study was commissioned by the British Columbia (BC) Ministry of Education to determine the number of students enrolled in transfer programs at the 14 BC community colleges who actually transfer to senior institutions. The study involved identifying all BC community college students (both full- and part-time) who were enrolled in transfer…

In 1988, a study was conducted to determine whether and to what extent the principles of opportunity, accessibility, adaptability, and comprehensiveness upon which Canada's community colleges were established have survived into the 1980's. The theoretical model underpinning the study was based on a three-dimensional matrix in which theories of…

In view of the increasing emphasis on career/technical programs in British Columbia community colleges and the growing criticism of academic transfer programs in such institutions, university transfer enrollment statistics were analyzed along with existing research on student goals and objectives. Results showed that the proportion of community…

A study was conducted to assess the purpose, design, and impact of three specific governmental policy initiatives, instituted between 1981 and 1984, upon the role and function of the 15 community colleges in British Columbia. The three policies included the introduction of a provincial model for long-range planning, the establishment of a formula…

In 1981, a study was conducted to explore the characteristics of students enrolled in career-technical programs in the community colleges and technical institutes of British Columbia. The first phase of a longitudinal look at these students, the study investigated demographic characteristics; educational, experience, and employment backgrounds;…