As the pandemic reaches the one-year mark in the United States, college presidents reflected on the impact the prolonged crisis has had on their institutions, their communities-- and themselves. The past year has seen not only the rampant spread of the novel coronavirus, but also social and political unrest. All of these issues have affected poor…

Community colleges are increasingly recognizing that diverse leadership is needed to reflect and honor their student and faculty populations. "Students need to feel like they're welcomed," says Robert Vela, president of San Antonio College and head of the National Community College Hispanic Council, an AACC affiliate council. "If…

By 2030, experts expect one in five American workers to have an immigrant background. And there are already 44 million immigrants in the United States. Most arrive with unmet workforce training needs. Even those with advanced degrees from their own countries can face language and cultural barriers that can leave them stuck in jobs that squander…

Community colleges are utilizing unique support programs and disparate modes of learning to build community in the era of COVID-19. Student of different backgrounds are finding themselves facing similar challenges during the pandemic. This article profiles a student-athlete, an immigrant, a full-time worker, and a student of color from an…

There tends to be a belief that community colleges are focused on the needs of their immediate communities. However, employers everywhere are looking for a more globally competent workforce. Even if that means to be an informed citizen who can help solve complex problems is changing, with challenges such as climate change or the coronavirus…

The announcement that Taiwanese manufacturing giant Foxconn will bring 13,000 jobs to Wisconsin and partner with Gateway Technical College is great news for the state's community and technical colleges and their students, but it's not particularly surprising. The state's two-year colleges have been notching all sorts of workforce development…

In the past 7 years of working at and in community colleges, the author has seen two distinct trends: (1) Community colleges appear to be ushering in a new era of advancement; and (2) Community colleges themselves are often the biggest impediment to successful advancement efforts. Despite millions of grateful learners and business and community…

Community colleges have made great strides in advancing student success and completion during the last decade. But not all students have benefited from these efforts equally. According to the Lumina Foundation, the postsecondary attainment rate for adults in the United States is around 40 percent. Yet, there are still large gaps in attainment…

As community colleges strive to meet President Obama's call to graduate 50 percent more college students by 2020, there is no shortage of promising ideas. But, as educators are learning, not all programs scale. Bringing completion programs to scale requires a fundamental shift in the culture of the college, away from enrollment and toward success.…

The growth of online education has slowed down among community colleges, but it is still outpacing overall enrollment, while the quality of the education offered has improved from a pale imitation to a worthy competitor, administrators say. More than 5.5 million community college students enrolled in distance education programs in 2013-14,…

Low-income students face a number of obstacles that go beyond the cost of tuition and fees. For instance, their schooling often requires expenses that aren't covered by financial aid, such as books and commuting costs. What's more, education is often competing for their time with other responsibilities, such as the need to work or take care of…

In 2000, nearly 5.5 million degree seeking students attended two-year colleges. In the 2010-2011 school year, that figure jumped to more than 8 million, due in part to the economic downturn and steadily rising tuition at four-year colleges and universities. Also, new skill requirements in the job market forced many professionals to seek…

Outsourcing has evolved into a strategic imperative at a growing number of community colleges, especially as administrators rein in spending and streamline operations in the face of shrinking budgets. Across the country, more colleges are outsourcing a range of functions, including information technology (IT), course instruction, food service,…

Community colleges have always been good stepping stones to four-year colleges. But despite a number of programs that promise admission to four-year schools upon completion of a two-year associate program, many transfer students fail to meet the standards for a baccalaureate degree. A National Center for Education Statistics report found that of…

The conventional wisdom is that students who are underprepared for colleges are least likely to access and benefit from online courses. Yet online course opportunities in developmental education are increasing every year. This article talks about the development of online developmental education and the challenges of delivering online courses.…