Community colleges are challenged with creating and sustaining student success organizational change. Institutional-level student success reform efforts are needed to combat the unacceptably low student completion rates, but colleges often struggle to initiate and maintain organizational reforms. After many years of reform efforts, researchers…

Institutional effectiveness (IE) is required for colleges and universities by the six regional accrediting agencies for education in the United States, but the creation of cyclical, systemic, ongoing IE plans has proven to be a challenge for institutions, and especially for community colleges. The literature indicates faculty resist IE work when…

Society is faced with more complex problems than in the past because of rapid advancements in technology. These complex problems require multi-dimensional problem-solving abilities that are consistent with higher-order thinking skills. Bok (2006) posits that over 90% of U.S. faculty members consider critical thinking skills as essential for…

The New Jersey Coastal Communiversity, led by Brookdale Community College, is a partnership of colleges and universities that provides local access to postassociate degree education. In operation for six years, the partnership exemplifies the strength of a collaborative model of higher education institutions to address statewide needs. Alan…

This dissertation is an examination of the state of the liberal arts curriculum in community colleges in three geographic regions of the United States. From a constructivist paradigm and using globalization theory as a theoretical framework, this multiple case study examined faculty work life and administrative processes related to curriculum…

Considers problems and practices in career programing for part-time students in terms of law enforcement, fire protection, banking, and real estate programs. Suggests identifying programs with many part-time students and assessing student needs and interests in comparison with institutional practices in order to generate maximum revenues at…

Essex Community College (Maryland) has used issue-oriented planning to maintain flexibility and adaptability while responding to environmental changes. Issues addressed by centralized and structured processes include management information systems, budget development, and external resource development. Issues addressed by decentralized processes…

Describes the remedial approach of Middle College's five-year--grades 10 - 14--program in terms of three aspects (size and setting, counseling, and basic skills instruction) and four factors influencing institutional development (variance in educational values, line of authority, planning continuity, and attitudes toward change). (AYC)

Making successful changes in college curriculum requires (1) a climate favorable to change with overt support from administrators; (2) a period of planning, study, fact finding, and reinforcement; and (3) implementation of the new curriculum with security, adequate resources, and the development of new skills. (MB)

Argues against community colleges' add-on responses to diverse student needs. Proposes restructuring the college to attain the open admissions goal, focusing on the teaching/learning process. Encourages institutional policies supporting program quality; improvement of student assessment skills; and use of a directive approach to student placement…

Since 1989, the North Central Association has required accredited institutions to develop programs that assess student academic achievement and reemphasized the role of general education (GE) as a central requirement for degree programs. At Wisconsin's Madison Area Technical College (MATC), these requirements presented four related challenges:…

Offers a case study of organizational change, tracing a two-year college's history and current emphasis on continuing education, community service, business and industry contract training, and a vocationally oriented curriculum. Considers the influence of administrative reorganization, enrollment declines, work rule changes, and other factors on…

Describes the implementation of open admissions at Bronx Community College (New York), and its impact on faculty. Identifies immediate results, including growth in enrollments and faculty, and the reallocation of academic resources to remediation. Considers subsequent financial problems, faculty retrenchment, and enrollment declines. Discusses the…

Part of a systematic, in-depth assessment of Miami-Dade Community College's (MDCC's) educational programs, student support systems, and selected campus-level activities, this volume of the college's institutional self-study report examines the impact and effectiveness of MDCC's academic policies and curriculum reforms. Introductory material…

Stressing the ongoing need for comprehensive higher education opportunities in the Springfield, Ohio, area, this operating plan details the changes and growth that will occur as a result of the expanded mission of Clark State Community College (CSCC). Chapter 1 provides introductory information on the recent approval of CSCC's change of status…