Community services and continuing education (CS/CE) has been an integral component of the mission of the comprehensive community college for over a generation. In 1968, the Kellogg Foundation funded a 3-year project designed to insure that CS/CE would achieve its rightful place in the mission of America's community colleges. A component of the…

An overview is provided of Hagerstown Junior College's (HJC's) efforts to redefine and redirect the college's mission. First, introductory material places HJC's mission development project within the context of other leadership challenges for the 1990's. Next, a strategic planning process focusing on mission redefinition is explained, highlighting…

This paper portrays community colleges as American institutions facing a critical need for self-assessment, especially as the new millennium approaches and effects an ever-increasing reliance on technology and information. Focusing on organizational sustainability, a generative method for change is described that emphasizes processes, team…

This paper addresses how community colleges should effect multidimensional, dynamic, and rapid change. It describes a three-stage paradigm of educational transition: (1) organizations cannot be changed by imposing an external model; (2) there is no objective reality outside an organization's culture; and (3) dynamic change is the result of…

Describes the 10-year process in which Hagerstown Junior College (HJC) (Maryland) underwent a transition from a passive institution to a proactive agent for community renewal. Indicates that HJC redefined its civic purpose and executed its agenda through community-based programming and the facilitation of community problem solving. Includes 15…

Describes changes in career and community college curricula, focusing on the general education function, structure, developmental education components, technical specialization, and connections between basic education and technology. Suggests that educational partnerships and curriculum changes are agents of societal renewal. (23 citations) (MAB)

Reviews findings from a 1971 study of the structure and design of community services/continuing education (CS/CE) in community colleges; and from a 1989 study of the tasks that CS/CE administrators perform. Assesses CS/CE administrators' leadership role in helping people build communities and other aspects of the community college mission. (DMM)

This paper proposes a process for community colleges to engage and direct discontinuous change in the face of the coming millennium. Described are several characteristics of change envisioned in the near future, including a complete break with the past, major reconstruction of nearly every element of the organization, and modification of the…

Critical reflection refers to an adaptation of civic literacy theory by educators seeking to promote the development of learning communities, taking an analytical approach to educational institutions. Critical reflection is being combined with the praxis approach, which stresses investigating issues, acting based on findings, subjecting outcomes…

The 1990's may well be characterized as the decade of renewal. For community colleges, the process of renewal will entail refocusing the mission and redefining the culture of two-year institutions as part of a nationwide attempt to restructure our approach to higher education. But, is it possible to modify both college mission and culture? Since…

Describes trends in two-year college faculty retirement. Argues that colleges can help new faculty members play active roles in realizing college mission by making them feel more a part of the college, increasing mentoring efforts, establishing ongoing professional development activities, decentralizing organizational culture, and recognizing the…

The number of part-time faculty employed in two-year colleges has risen dramatically in recent years, with current data indicating that 64% of two-year college faculty work part time. It is critical, therefore, that colleges ensure that part-time faculty are well integrated into the organizational culture. In assessing initiatives for helping…

Significant changes in the educational environment have inspired structural and functional redefinitions to increase institutional competitiveness. To flourish, colleges now must be able to respond quickly and effectively to change. They must be adaptive, flexible, responsive, and innovative, especially in their application of new technology. They…