Community college transfer--rooted in the notion that any individual, regardless of background or academic preparation, could enroll at an open access college, transfer to a four-year institution, and earn a bachelor's degree--is the most transformative educational experiment of the century. Even for a nation that prides itself on second chances,…

In a higher education career that has spanned over four decades Hunter Boylan has served as a gang control worker, a TRIO Program Director, a community college and university instructor, a learning center director, and an academic advisor and counselor, just to name a few of his roles. He is the author of 7 books and over 100 articles, book…

With more and more students making community college the starting point of their postsecondary education, there is potential in the pipeline; tapping into it promises great rewards. Transfer has long been integral to the community college mission, but navigating the path to the four-year degree continues to be a challenge. Transfer students have…

Community colleges have been engaged for the last sixty years in providing open access to public higher education to anyone with a high school diploma. Recently, disappointing success rates for developmental students have driven some colleges to reduce or restrict access to college based on standardized test scores. The operative phrase in most of…

Developmental courses in English, math, and reading have an important purpose in higher education, especially in the open-access world of community colleges. These classes--also referred to as "remedial"--are intended to give less-prepared students a chance to catch up and meet the challenges of college-level coursework. However,…

Given the variety of student intents, programs, pathways, and courses offered at a given community college, it is almost impossible for community colleges to provide general information to all prospective students about how to prepare for all the courses offered. But if community colleges seek to help students reach their goals, they must improve…

Dale Parnell's "The Neglected Majority" is one of the most influential works by a community college leader in the history of the community college movement. This essay explores the impact of "The Neglected Majority" since publication in 1985 and includes an interview with Parnell that assesses his perspective of the nearly 20 years following his…

In this study, we examine the role of academic preparation in the transition from community colleges to four-year institutions. We address two specific questions: To what extent do academically unprepared students transfer to four-year institutions? And, can positive experiences in community colleges diminish the role of inadequate academic…

The authors point out that offices of institutional research are valuable resources for collecting data to help faculty improve their teaching, and can involve the whole institution in a collaborative effort towards improved student learning. Defining institutional research as a capacity to work closely with faculty to explore questions about what…

Notes the high attrition rate of university science students who transfer from community colleges. Examines the causes of this problem, including a decreased level of instruction due to declining enrollments of academic majors at community colleges. Suggests the provision of a tutorial pretransfer term for science majors. (JP)

Offers examples of research efforts undertaken at Miami-Dade Community College to analyze the college preparatory program, considering early research using placement test scores, research using college-preparatory course enrollment data, and most recent research using a longitudinal database. Argues that the research process must proceed with…

Suggests a collaboration between local high schools and community colleges in which educational objectives and equipment can be shared, and both staff development and college recruitment can be improved. (JC)

Warns that the current educational reform movement may undermine educational equity, opportunity, and choice. Cites emerging trends concerning the educational and socioeconomic status of Black Americans. Reviews the efforts of the College Board's Educational EQuality Project to strengthen the preparation of all college-bound students. (DMM)

Recognizes a decline in the community college transfer function. Cites studies revealing a decrease in the number of transfer students, lower ability levels, and weakened liberal arts programs as causative factors. Calls for the transfer function's preservation through improved communication, clearly stated admissions requirements, improved…

Argues that remedial education is essential to maintain open access to higher education. Reviews arguments for and against mandatory remediation in colleges. Proposes that course loads for remedial students be limited and sequential in nature until remediation is complete and that they be integrated with content courses. (18 citations.) (HAA)