Much has been written of late regarding the effects on higher education of the shifting demographics in the United States. Many writers seem to focus on colleges that are closing because the shrinking number of 18- to 24-year-olds means declining enrollments. The authors of this article would like to focus on some positive actions and strategies…

Adapting campuses, classes, and processes to better serve Hispanic students will be a crucial step toward meeting national attainment goals. Since fall 2000, the number of Hispanic students in public colleges has effectively doubled. However, due to a Congressional ban on a student-level data system, the federal government is flying blind when it…

The purpose of the current study was to determine if three community colleges were serving developmental education students in an effective and cost-efficient manner, make observations about the developmental education demographics, and conclude if Senate Bill 162 (SB 162) increased the percentage of college ready students who participated in…

This study evaluated variables associated with academic preparation and student demographics as predictors of academic achievement through participation in supplemental instruction (SI) programs for community college students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields. The findings suggest a differential impact of SI outcome for…

Illustrates changes in the demography, social structure, and educational needs of communities served by community colleges. Considers the changing educational needs of specific community constituencies as new social, economic, and technological trends emerge, institutional responses to these changing needs, and the implications of these responses…

For over 30 years, researchers and practitioners have identified challenges unique to small, rural community colleges. The purpose of this study was to examine the distinctive problems facing rural community colleges today and the challenges those institutions must address to fulfill their mission in rural America. There are 5 current challenges…

This digest discusses two recurrent themes presented in the New Directions for Community Colleges volume titled "Organizational Change in the Community College: Ripple or Sea Change?" First, change in the external environment is accelerating, and colleges must respond to these changes to thrive. External environmental influences include…

Prepared as part of the College of the Mainland's (CM's) reaffirmation of its accreditation, this report: (1) identifies the principles of strategic planning relevant to the community college; (2) illustrates the implementation of strategic planning in a community college; (3) identifies the conditions conducive to the employment of strategic…

This concise history of community colleges touches on major themes, including open access and equity, comprehensiveness, community-based philosophy, commitment to teaching, and lifelong learning. The third edition includes revised text as well as updated statistical information, time line, reading list, and Internet resources. In the more than a…

A diverse group of individuals was asked to prepare brief commentaries on the condition of higher education, its contribution to the economic and social development of southern U.S., and its need for reform. The 12 resultant essays, each printed seperately, and gathered together in this collection: "Higher Education: A Prized Asset in Need of…

Describes a study designed to compare demographics of community college students with those of proprietary school students. Indicates that community college and proprietary school students differed more in the past than they do currently, and that proprietary not-for-profit institutions may contribute to the apparent convergence. (27 citations)…

Designed to help those who plan and allocate resources for California's community colleges in evaluating future trends and identifying responsible policy directions, this report seeks to: (1) describe present and future trends and their variations within California; (2) determine the applications of those trends for community colleges; (3)…

Out of a factual description of the national demographic and economic context of higher education in general the authors offer interpretations for community colleges emphasizing three trends significant to educational planners: (1) Demographic pressure that made for increased enrollments in the past will dissipate at the traditional college-going…

This paper on recruiting and retaining minorities details the difficulties and successes of Gainesville College (Georgia) to induct and retain minorities from 1993 to 1998. During this five-year period, Black enrollment at the college decreased by 9.1% (from 84 to 77), while Hispanic and Asian enrollments increased by 61.2% (26 to 67) and 35.7%…

This paper discusses the trends in community college education and the societal and demographic changes that are influencing these trends. School enrollments have been increasing in recent years due to the flood of incoming children from baby boomers and immigrant minorities, as well as from students who are staying in school longer. These…