Across the U.S., an estimated 60% of incoming community college students require developmental courses to be ready for college-level work, according to estimates by experts. As these courses act as a gateway to further studies, those who fail are most often lost to higher education: Less than a quarter will earn a degree or certificate within…

Research conducted by the Community College Research Center (CCRC) and others was criticized in an article by Alexandros M. Goudas and Hunter R. Boylan (2012) published in the "Journal of Developmental Education," Volume 36, Issue 1. They raise specific contentions related to the methodology applied in the CCRC studies, the review of…

Simpson argues that in dual enrollment all the advantages appear to be on the side of the community college.

Discusses the quality and impact of occupational education in community colleges and gives guidelines that indicate the influences on program effectiveness. (JOW)

In the context of a discussion of the role of developmental education in the nation's community colleges, this paper responds to criticisms of developmental education that have been made in recent years. First, the paper considers the role of developmental education in promoting literacy, examines definitions of literacy, highlights results of…

The first step in making a community college foundation successful is to evaluate the institution, its programs, the commitment of its personnel, and the difference it makes in the community. If the college is found to be a viable, integral part of the community, worthy of its support, then the groundwork for seeking that support can be laid. The…

Reports on a survey of community college chief student personnel officers, which focused on the comprehensiveness of student service program offerings and the relative contribution of the program to designated purposes. Reveals that purposes related to student development were subordinate to those related to delivery of services. (DMM)

Argues that staff development should be integrated with organizational development in order to effect lasting change. Feels that staff development programs that focus only on ability as a determinant of performance, that target only the individual, and that ignore the internal climate and external environment of the institution cannot succeed.…

The program review process described in this report was developed at Anchorage Community College (ACC) after 3 years of experimentation and adjustment. Following a brief overview of the factors that instigated the effort, the report sets forth the assumptions and definitions underpinning the review process. Next, a series of suggestions are…

Stresses the importance of academic advising, at both institutional and student levels, and reviews literature on the relative merits of student advisement systems and professional counselor systems. Argues that the best advising system is one that fits the local college constituency. (DMM)

Alternatives for revitalizing the programs and management of student services in community colleges are reviewed in this paper. First, alternatives related to student services programs are considered, including: (1) the increased use of computer-assisted counseling to integrate student services more fully with mainstream academic activities; (2)…

Responds to criticisms commonly leveled against community colleges with respect to their provision of developmental education. Looks at issues related to program costs, departmental responsibility, articulation with secondary schools, teacher preparation, placement and diagnostic test validity. (DMM)

If community colleges are to continue democratizing postsecondary education and providing the labor market with the skilled manpower the nation needs to sustain a high level of economic growth, better quality data on the effectiveness of programs must be available to both administrators and instructors. (Author)

Provides a basic model for instructional technology and discusses its applicability to community colleges. Reviews the role of mastery learning and competency-based instruction in reforming general education in the community college. Identifies the elements common to most successful instructional programs. (DMM)

Adapting the principles outlined in "In Search of Excellence: Lessons from America's Best Run Companies" (Thomas J. Peters and Robert H. Waterman, Jr.) to the operations of continuing education departments, this paper discusses eight rules for success and provides examples of their application. Rule One, "Bias for Action," emphasizes the…