Community colleges have evolved a lot over the decades, but as much as they've changed over the years, they've remained true to their core mission of serving their community's needs. They have done so as they always have--by being highly responsive to shifting priorities. This calls to mind the old saying: The more things change, the more they…

In a recent survey of 4,000 community college students, half reported experiencing a mental health condition. American College Counseling Association's (ACCA) fifth annual survey of personal and mental health counseling at community colleges provides some data from 159 professionals at two-year colleges in 41 states and Puerto Rico. Among the…

As some community college students know all too well, it's difficult to concentrate on your studies if you are hungry, don't have a roof over your head, lack adequate transportation, or just had your laptop stolen and don't have the money for a new one. In some cases, it makes staying in school, period, very challenging. Recognizing the roadblocks…

As the number of two- and four-year college options available to community members grows, so too does the competition among institutions of higher education to land new students. Expectations are high. Today's students want more than a quality education. They also want a college with a service culture--one that works with them to create an…

For over 100 years, community colleges have been rightly seen as institutions designed to have an intimate relation to the community they serve. In order to know about the educational needs of the local communities, they were mandated to conduct frequent surveys and subsequently adapt the programs of study. Since its founding in 1959,…

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…

Reviews problems of using traditional assessment procedures and instruments on nonnative students, citing linguistic and cultural factors. Drawing from interviews with nonnative students, describes assessment procedures utilized abroad, reports nonnatives' perceptions of assessment in United States as limited and insufficient, and offers…

Describes Tidewater Community College students' reactions to college-wide discussions on racial diversity. Students articulated the need for honest conversation that could lead to better understanding of diverse thoughts, feelings, and perspectives on race and their subsequent influences on behavior. Asserts that faculty, through their curricula,…

Analyzes the developmental learning needs of community college students by age group, using data gathered by North Carolina State University's Student Assessment of the College Environment (SACE). Asserts that colleges must accommodate students ranging in age from under 20 to over 70. (JDI)