Two related themes currently dominate discourse on open-access colleges, particularly community colleges: increasing college-going and degree attainment and improving the performance of postsecondary institutions with respect to producing graduates. Largely missing from this discourse, however, is cogency concerning the innumerable ways in which…

Arthur M. Cohen and his colleagues at the Center for the Study of Community Colleges have made significant and broad contributions to the scholarly literature and empirical research about community colleges. Although Cohen's interests are comprehensive and his writings touch on multiple issues associated with community colleges, his empirical work…

Arthur M. Cohen has spoken to community college leaders on a diverse array of issues for many years. This article focuses on his contributions to this leadership in three major areas: (a) providing a vision of community colleges as collegiate institutions, (b) offering valuable and thought-provoking insight into the current context for community…

Berta Vigil Laden was a scholar who helped raise our understanding of minority-serving institutions generally and Hispanic-serving institutions in particular. She approached her work with empathy and compassion. This article reviews her major contributions.

The Northern California Research Group (NORCAL) organized a series of workshops for occupational administrators designed to provide insight into research procedures and practices in areas including: program effectiveness, job placement services, needs assessment, program evaluation, and follow-up studies. (NHM)

Reviews the funding patterns of two research grants programs. Explores reasons that proportionately few awards go to community college professors--research is not encouraged at two-year colleges; applicants without doctoral degrees receive few awards; community colleges have inadequate representation on review panels; and community college faculty…

Makes several biographical statements about Raymond E. Schultz, Professor of Community College Education (University of Arizona) prior to his death in l980. Introduces this special journal issue dedicated to Dr. Schultz, which focuses on his contributions to the field of community college education through articles by his former students. (CAM)

Argues that the need for research on the community college is intensified by the ever-changing character of learner needs and community conditions. Addresses two criticisms of two-year college research: the same questions are researched repeatedly and the effort overtaxes institutions. Calls for a stronger research base on the two-year college.…

Discusses the following factors influencing the role of community college institutional researchers: the current emphasis on proposal writing and grant management, fiscal constraints, mission expansion, marketing, program evaluations, faculty/administrator relations, institutional credibility and change, college planning, and issues of the 1980s.…

Analyzes the 394 articles published in the "Community/Junior College Quarterly of Research and Practice" between 1977 and 1991 in terms of the authors' gender, region of residence, and institutional affiliation. Reports that most of the 633 authors were male, employed at a research university, and from the south. (DMM)