The purpose of this case study was to examine student experiences within an established guided pathways model program that integrated a system of student support to increase on-time graduation rates. Four research questions guided the investigation: (1) How did the participants describe the college's approach to helping students enter an academic…

Defined as language, literacy and numeracy, and employability skills, foundation skills are essential for individuals to participate in further education, employment and wider society. Community education providers, such as community colleges, neighbourhood houses, faith-based organisations and adult learning associations, are key providers of…

Academic department chairs serve as front-line managers and leaders who perform a wide variety of tasks. These tasks may include mundane chores, such as ordering office supplies, or important ones, such as changing the department culture to one that embraces assessment. Too often, however, individuals take on the chair position with little to no…

This study examined the application and perceived effectiveness of the Council for the Advancement of Standards (CAS) in a community college Student Affairs Division. The two research questions were as follows: (1) How does a Community College apply CAS standards? (2) What is the perceived effectiveness of applying those standards? A case study…

A single qualitative case study design was used to determine the opinions of administrators and faculty from a community college that is considered to be transitioning to a learning-centered college. The researcher conducted the case study to describe, explain, and evaluate the phenomenon. The researcher also recorded facilitators or roadblocks…

The development of the U.S. community college concept for increasing access, success, and transition in both transfer and career programs has been well documented (Cohen & Brawer, 2003). With such success has come increased international interest in both the organizational model of the community college and the instructional approaches taken…

Millions of dollars are spent annually on professional development, and designers of training events recognize they must demonstrate to all stakeholders the value added by these programs. The purpose of this study was to measure the learning that occurred during professional development seminars for community college academic department chairs.…

One of the greatest challenges that community colleges face in their efforts to increase graduation rates is improving the success of students in their developmental, or remedial, education programs. This literature review seeks to examine research on developmental education strategies and reforms and identify the most promising approaches for…

Discusses the importance of providing orientation and professional development for community college trustees, arguing that development programs are best when they are individually tailored to colleges and new board members. Presents a model trustee education curriculum, highlighting key skill areas related to college context, group processes,…

This report presents an evaluation of an individualized professional development program, the Professional Support Program, created at the Reading Area Community College (RACC) in Pennsylvania to provide a climate within which academic faculty and professional staff may enrich their personal and professional capacities to teach students…

Critical thinking is foundational to the effective teaching of any subject, and it must be at the heart of any professional development program. This chapter presents a long-term professional development model based on a substantive concept of critical thinking, and ties critical thinking to the concept of the Learning College.

This paper describes a needs assessment process that identifies a range of performance improvement strategies using the steps of the Evaluation Research Model (Geroy and Wright, 1988). A detailed description of a project conducted by the Professional Development Committee of a mid-sized community college in suburban Philadelphia to identify…

A study was conducted to determine the important components of a comprehensive staff development program. To guide the investigation, a paradigm was constructed which identified the content areas of staff development as personal/professional, program/instructional, and organizational development; and which specified a statement of purpose or…

Discusses practical strategies for incorporating diversity in college and university faculty and staff development programs, regardless of content. Presents Malcolm Knowles' seven-step program planning model as a framework--steps include assessing needs and interests, defining purposes and objectives, and designing learning activities. Contains…

As the purposes of colleges change and adapt, so too should college staff have the opportunities to change and adapt. Faculty development can help provide these opportunities, while at the same time meeting demands of accountability and fostering curricular and instructional innovation. The goals of faculty development in the Houston Community…