Amy Morrison Goings was 40 years old in 2013 when she began her presidency at Lake Washington Institute of Technology. She didn't consider herself a representative of all Generation X community college presidents, but as a member of this tight-knit group, she does feel a need to share her insight into what's on the minds of that community.…

There's an urban legend which holds that community college graduates who go on to earn degrees at other institutions develop a stronger loyalty to the college that granted their highest degree. Perpetuating this legend is a limiting belief that keeps fundraising professionals from taking necessary steps to fully develop the potential that exists…

Across the country, some 78 million baby boomers are closing in on retirement age. While some are considering second careers--in teaching or health care, for instance--others are staying active and involved through volunteering and community service. Recognizing the tremendous opportunity this population holds in terms of experience, skills, and…

Nothing is more important to the success of community colleges than quality of leadership. It influences student outcomes, faculty success, and financial stability at all levels of the institution. With the impending retirements of so many baby boomer community college leaders, the leadership gap is an issue of increasing concern. In this article,…

This article describes four factors that greatly affect the United States' labor market over the coming years. These are: (1) impending baby boomer retirements; (2) ongoing shifts in the country's demographic composition; (3) the greatly increased payoff on postsecondary education; and (4) the direct correlation between technological advances and…

As a growing number of high school age students turn to community college campuses for a jumpstart on their collegiate lives, aging baby boomers are heading back to school for training--or perhaps even second or third careers. The composition of the American student body is changing: At one end is youth and unbridled enthusiasm and, at the other,…

There are three generations that exist in the workplace today: baby boomers, Gen X, and Gen Y. Each generation shows an entire spectrum of human values, attitudes and beliefs. This article describes the characteristic attitudes and expectations of each generation. The author examines the differences that cause conflict and describes coping…

Presents national data on the 40-and-older student population, focusing on their methods for gaining access to postsecondary education, experiences while participating in education and training, and outcomes. Reports that the proportion of these students increased 235% between 1970 and 1993 and that the majority attend part-time and live…

The U.S. is in the early stages of a demographic development that will bring about radical changes in the higher education population. As the result of two phenomena--the retiring of the baby boomers (those born in the decade immediately following WW II) and the steadily increasing life expectancy--people are going to see a sharp and unprecedented…