Signs of a leadership crisis in community colleges have been building over the past decade, with one study predicting that as many as 84 percent of current presidents could retire within the next 10 years. Several plans of action are under way to handle this changing of the guard, including more leadership-preparation programs offered by such…

Isolation and lack of services for members of minority groups can be real hurdles for colleges in small towns and rural areas that want to diversify their work forces. The chance to meet people from the same background, worship in a shared faith, or share cultural interests can make or break someone's living experience. This article describes…

When the nearest metropolis is hundreds of miles away, cultural enrichment is not always easy to come by. Arts programs have evolved to reflect the needs of such regions, providing a rich diet for culture-starved residents. Some colleges have created choirs or theater groups that welcome local participation, while others have developed elaborate…

Community colleges in all areas of the country offer students opportunities for postsecondary education that they might not otherwise have. The nearly 600 community colleges that serve rural communities play a special role in providing access, one that the author believes deserves greater understanding and recognition. He shares some of what he…

In small towns throughout the Midwest, families would gather on nights for an evening of broad comedy, melodrama, and music. Jackson Community College has kept this dying art alive every summer since the Rosier Players troupe was donated to the college in 1976. (MLW)

Virginia will pilot a program to send some community college graduates to several rural private colleges in an effort to improve educational access and help meet the anticipated growth in enrollments in the next decade. Some feel the state should expand existing public institutions instead. (MSE)