Service learning is one of the most effective teaching methods for engaging and retaining community college students, but it comes with its challenges. For many students, the added requirements of a service learning experience can become one more responsibility in an already too-long list. In addition to being responsible for children, holding…

A community college's success hinges in large part on the effectiveness of its teaching faculty, no more so than in times of major organizational change. However, any large-scale foundational shift requires institutional buy-in, with the onus on leadership to create an environment where everyone is working together toward the same endpoint.…

Research suggests that the appearance of a college campus--both inside and out--is a significant criterion in college selection. As community colleges are finding it increasingly important to attract and retain students, placemaking is becoming an effective and efficient platform to support recruitment and retention. Placemaking is imagining and…

Ensuring that community colleges can better support students in pursuit and completion of college credentials is a central focus of the American Association of Community Colleges' 21st-Century Commission on the Future of Community Colleges. Recently, many institutions have worked to improve the college entry experience, but too often, student…

It's an old adage: When the economy declines, community college enrollments rise. A fall 2009 report from the American Association of Community Colleges says enrollments were up nearly 17 percent compared with fall 2007. However, nearly a third of those students have already dropped out of college. Further, roughly half will not return for their…

A very different world is evolving at a breathtaking pace. America's future is headed toward an information-based economy in which new jobs require some postsecondary education. The nation is depending on community colleges to be the linchpin to produce an essential, highly skilled workforce. However, America is not close to meeting that…

The 1,175 community colleges in the U.S. share in two key objectives--retaining students by helping them to be successful and keeping college affordable for students. As a community college financial administrator the author knew a little about retention, but she had no idea there may be a correlation between student retention and finances until…

With increased interest in learning college initiatives, growing awareness of the need to promote higher levels of student success, and continuing emphasis on state accountability measures, many community colleges are seeing the need for a comprehensive evaluation of their retention and student success initiatives. Given continuing resource…

If one thing is clear in the community college world, it is that access to higher education--while critically important--is no longer enough. Unless followed by persistence and meaningful "attainment," access can become an empty promise. Understanding the importance of postsecondary education, both to individuals and to the society, people are…

Argues for the importance of systematically studying the effects of community colleges on students. Research findings are reported on the following effects: attaining a bachelor's degree, labor market returns, economic returns, and developmental impact. Concludes that community colleges may be fostering student talent with the same degree of…

Argues that quality of life is a vital measure when counseling students to determine their best educational pathways to success. Explains that a student's current life status and his/her projected future are useful tools for making recommendations for development and for instilling motivation. Urges college personnel to actively engage students in…

There is a growing population of young adults who are underserved by community colleges in the United States, students who are poorly prepared for college work and are at risk of poverty, social problems and failure to realize their full potential. Educational programs offered by community colleges represent this group's best hope of overcoming…