As more and more students look to community colleges for their pursuit of higher education, the number of academically unprepared entrants continues to increase disproportionately. With over 41 percent of all entering community college students requiring some form of remediation (Bettinger & Long, 2009) and traditional methods of instruction…

In this paper we estimate the impacts of the "pathways" chosen by community college students--in terms of desired credentials and fields of study, as well as other choices and outcomes along the paths--on the attainment of credentials with labor market value. We focus on the extent to which there are recorded changes in students' choices…

This study examined the impact of a set of theoretically-derived predictor variables on the persistence and transfer of Hispanic community college students. Early models of student persistence have been validated primarily among 4-year college students. While the constructs have been well-established, the relationships of those relevant factors…

For years, colleges have used placement exams to determine whether to deem incoming students "college ready" or assign them to developmental education. But emerging information reveals the tests have little correlation to students' future success, casting doubt on their use even as the high stakes for students of taking remedial courses…

Efforts to improve student learning and success at community colleges are in the national policy spotlight. Colleges around the country are reviewing their institutional practices and gathering groups of education stakeholders to design and then implement changes in advising, developmental education, programs of study and curricula, student…

Discusses the decisions colleges must make in planning programs for nontraditional or high risk students and categorizes these decisions under four areas: (1) organizational considerations; (2) program dimensions, i.e. content and instructional strategies; (3) decisions about students; and (4) program evaluation procedures. (JG)

A strategy was developed to improve the administration of an Open Entry/Open Exit and Self-Paced Individualized Instruction (OE/OE and SPII) program in community colleges in Oregon. The variables affecting an innovative program are identified and discussed based on the author's practical experience, and a series of alternative ideas for decision…

An outline of the proceedings of a conference to plan the educational priorities of the Maricopa County (Arizona) Community College District and the subsequent report to the governing board are presented. Task force groups focused on the role of Maricopa Technical Community College in the district; the role of the district in statewide…

This chapter identifies current organizational and instructional approaches to developmental education in community colleges and recommends a process by which colleges can make institutionally appropriate decisions to improve developmental education outcomes.