Community colleges have encountered many factors that may reshape their future. Environmental imperatives weigh heavily on community colleges, as does the new integration of the sciences, such as breakthroughs in the biochemical sciences, such as the human genome project. It is also important to pay attention to the forms in which knowledge is…

Describes the new demographic transition the United States is currently undergoing; that it is becoming a multicultural society which may someday have no ethnic majority. Stresses the point that the main question is not what the demographics of future America will be, but how the different ethnic groups will relate to one another. (VWC)

States that government, college, and community leaders are calling for a reexamination of the community-college mission. Asserts that it is time for trustees and college leaders to reassess their institutions' core values to ensure they are meeting the demands of a new era. Contains 13 citations. (VWC)

Identifies five building blocks for successful communities of the future and four required competencies for those who lead community development initiatives. Describes a cluster of four projects designed to test the theory that community colleges can be a major catalyst for community and leadership development. Presents questions that colleges can…

Describes the importance for community colleges of looking toward the future to compete effectively. Suggests that change is a variable process that progresses slowly or quickly depending on the interaction of three variables: competitors, customers, and organizational cultures. Includes a checklist for college leaders to determine their level of…

Details six planning assumptions related to the costs, replacement, and upgrade of computer resources at community colleges. Illustrates the assumptions with examples from the Maricopa County Community College District's efforts to implement and maintain their computer technology. Includes tables of costs of computing equipment from 1986 through…

Sets forth eight rules for using assessment to allow community colleges to create a distinctive image: create a "brand identity," differentiate the institution from competitors, big picture goals, total institution performance, priority assigned to stakeholders, measuring intangible benefits, continuous customer touch, and urgency for action.…

Asserts that higher education institutions can benefit greatly, or cease to exist, depending upon how each college and university adapts to the transformational power of information technology in the future. Discusses the inevitable changes in higher education, catalysts, responses, and potential impact of change, and how to adapt to inevitable…

As economic conditions worsen and enrollments surge, community colleges make two basic moves. They increase class size, add more sections, hire more part-time instructors, boost tuition, and create more parking spaces to accommodate more students. Then they slash spending by cutting things before people--travel, staff development funds, equipment…

Discusses organizational development and its importance to the competitive community college. Suggests new tactics to renew colleges by changing competencies, redesigning structures and systems, and developing new alliances. Closes with a basic design that emphasizes narrowing the gap between a college's current core values and future…

Asserts that building relationships with constituents remains the best strategy for ensuring the future institutional survival of community colleges. Examines some of the conditions that community colleges will be facing in the future, such as increasing numbers of students to serve, the continuing need for remedial/developmental education, and…

Suggests a positive future for community colleges as the educational needs of high school students, business organizations, graduate students, and diverse others stimulate enrollment. Predicts high demand for community colleges for reasons including convenience, quality of instruction, and flexibility in scheduling. (VWC)

Proposes scenario planning in preparing for the future of higher education. Delineates a methodology for effective scenario planning: identifying potential future scenarios; examining social, economic, political, environmental, and technological influences; exploring mental models while looking through systems maps, and developing potential…