Discusses a program developed to assist displaced workers in a small town in Arkansas after a uniform-manufacturing company shut down and moved to Mexico, leaving nearly 200 unskilled workers unemployed. Reports that almost 100 of the workers became community college students through a cooperative program that involved the schools, the state, the…

Highlights the importance of developing community college leaders capable of demonstrating strategic leadership and responding to the global forces that influence community college education. Discusses the Consortium for Community College Development's Strategic Leadership Forum and its principles, format, content, and early results. (RC)

In this interview with the Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Employment and Training Administration (ETA), the following issues are covered: workforce development, new areas of focus, transition from the old to the new system, community colleges and the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), short-term and long-term challenges, and other initiatives.…

States that although many organizations offer training courses, they also rely on educational institutions to provide training and proper credentials. Discusses the recent demand for skills in information technology (IT) and how it has generated a wide range of courses offered by community colleges. Addresses how competency in IT is assessed, and…

This article presents an interview with Emily Stover DeRocco, Assistant Secretary of the Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. In this interview, the assistant secretary answers probing questions about the Community College Initiative, the workforce system, and the training funds directed through the workforce system.

Discusses the history of welfare reform and the different approaches used in several states. Describes multiple models that have emerged in community colleges, including short-term training programs, open entry/exit programs or alternative entry dates, classes offered at unconventional times, company-specific programs, case-management strategies,…

Argues that problem-based learning, which stresses relevant learner issues and allows for the flexibility of the situation and the learners in the classroom, can be used to better prepare students for the workplace. Presents the five steps the process takes students through--engagement, inquiry, solution building, debriefing and reflection, and…

Explores the major changes occurring within present-day American community colleges and their missions, such as the increase in courses tailored to meet the needs of the workplace. Uses the experience of Montgomery College (Maryland) to offer suggestions on managing change and meeting challenges, and examples of colleges achieving success.…

Describes California's Educational Development Network (ED>Net), an experimental effort to use the existing community college infrastructure to enhance the state's economic development activities. Highlights ED>Net's focus on developing organization, process, and individual skills in the current workforce. Indicates that ED>Net is…

Commitment to community is the cornerstone of the community college mission. Community colleges were created to serve the needs of their local communities, and that commitment to community continues to be a very good thing at community colleges throughout the country. But when commitment to community is so strong that colleges become too…

Reports on Southern Illinois University's (SIU) idea to consolidate its A.A.S. Electronics Technology degree with its two-year capstone B.A. degree in Electronics Management (ELM). Explains that this four-year ELM curriculum is designed to accommodate the transfer of two-year students who have already completed two years of course work. Offers…

Presents an excerpt from the book, Help Wanted...Credentials Required: Community Colleges in the Knowledge Economy. States that credentials are now highly sought after by many employees, and community colleges must balance between providing a good education/training and the economic strain of doing so. Discusses changes in the trends of higher…

Community colleges have played a key role in connecting high school tech prep, industry training, and baccalaureate education. As an institution of higher education known for its adaptability and willingness to provide customized training, the community college has been influenced by industry and federal policy (e.g., Workforce Investment Act…

Discusses the changes in the American economy during the past century, highlighting its evolution from an industrial economic base to a system of high-performance work organizations. Describes the increased importance of postsecondary education and the role of community colleges in providing both academic and applied skills training. (21…

Describes efforts of the Los Angeles Community College District's three most affected campuses to help rebuild Los Angeles in the wake of the 1992 riots. Discusses sensitivity gatherings, new job development partnerships with business and government, community outreach, and the district's long-term commitment to the city. (DMM)