Immigrants and others who didn't grow up speaking English are often at a disadvantage when entering the workforce. One of the best ways for non-native English speakers to level the playing field is to enroll in targeted courses and job-training programs offered through their local community colleges. The best of these programs combines important…

The use of personal student success stories as an advocacy tool provides a sense of reality for those of influence. In the case of community colleges, sharing stories of students overcoming adverse circumstances provides context to those who have never experienced community colleges or students' lives, including the depth and breadth of life…

Over the past few years, 300,000 students have been turned away from California community colleges. Those that remain jockey for classes with ever-narrower registration deadlines. City College of San Francisco may be forced to close its doors to its 90,000 students after a state investigation found that the administration hadn't managed budget…

The numbers were already bad, and they keep getting worse, for the Dallas County Community College District (DCCCD). Given the weak economy, administrators planned for a 5 percent reduction in state funding in the 2010-11 academic year. The actual reduction ballooned to more than 7.5 percent, an additional $13 million that DCCCD would be forced to…

As the market for online communications evolves, it's hard to blame college administrators for feeling a bit deluged. Gone are the days of traditional media, where communications professionals relied on newspapers and print and radio advertising to recruit students and tell their stories. With more students embracing technology today--particularly…

As Americans look for ways to reboot their careers, the value and contributions of the nation's community and technical colleges cannot be oversold. A wave of unprecedented support--from the press, the public, even the White House--has shone a light on the benefits of an affordable, quality community college education. Despite unprecedented…

To blame was a formula in the new GI Bill that provides funding equivalent to the highest-priced postsecondary undergraduate institution in the state. Because California's public schools have traditionally charged "fees" for services and not traditional tuition, many veterans attempting to attend California colleges were excluded from…

They say necessity is the mother of invention. In the author's 42 years with community colleges, it has never been more necessary to become proactive at raising revenue. The economic recession has adversely affected the colleges as never before. Across the U.S., enrollment growth is unprecedented, as are budget cuts. Such imbalance presents a…

As states slash funding for education and other services in the face of shrinking budgets, the question is not how to find students, but how to help them once enrolled. Linda Hagedorn, director of the Research Institute for Studies in Higher Education at Iowa State University, states that instead of being concerned about where community colleges…

Enrollments are up across the board--a good sign for any college, particularly one that's only recently opened its doors--but enthusiasm is tempered by the reality of an impending budget crisis. Like most colleges, the situation is compounded by political pressure to increase the nation's graduation rate. Not that graduating students hasn't always…

With Arizona's mining industry in decline and its construction and housing market racked by economic upheaval, workers in rural regions across the state are enrolling in community colleges at a record clip. At Central Arizona College (CAC), administrators have reported 16 percent to 20 percent growth each semester for three years running. Georgia…

While public demand for education and job training--two consequences of a down economy--are at an all-time high, community colleges, many of which face record enrollments, are forced to do more with less. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 39 states report shortfalls for FY 2010; 36 reported cuts to higher education across…

Not unlike many community colleges across the country, Valencia Community College, located in Orlando, Florida, has been working to better connect with its constituents. In an era in which the Internet is opening new lines of communication between schools and prospective students, more community colleges are tapping into the opportunities inherent…

The Web has always been an alluring storehouse of information. When it comes to today's online world, the just-put-it-on-the-Web mentality will not do. Community colleges must understand that the Internet is a vital tool in their marketing arsenal. What does this mean? Essentially, if enrollment is the primary goal, making the most of the college…

Rough patches occur at both ends of the education pipeline, as students enter community colleges and move on to work or enrollment in four-year institutions. Career pathways--sequences of coherent, articulated, and rigorous career and academic courses that lead to an industry-recognized certificate or a college degree--are a promising approach to…