Community and technical colleges serve a vital function in STEM education by training workers for medium- and high-skilled technical careers and providing employers the labor necessary to operate and maintain thriving business ventures. A curriculum developed with the elements of a systems-based approach results in a program more relevant to the…

One enduring, and perhaps endearing, characteristic of the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) is its commitment to pluralism. NCHC recognizes that excellent honors educational opportunities can be cultivated across the diverse settings of American higher education from two-year community colleges through large, comprehensive research…

The first step in developing the honors program at North Arkansas Community College (NACC) involved establishing the following four program objectives: (1) to develop students' skills in critical thinking, research, and the application of knowledge; (2) to explore the historical, philosophical, and cultural backgrounds of disciplines; (3) to…

A "prerequisite" is a measure of readiness for a course or program that a student is required to meet as a condition of enrolling in a course or program. An "advisory" is a measure of readiness for a course or program that a student is recommended to meet in order to enroll. A prerequisite or advisory may be a course, activity,…

Prepared by the Developmental Skills Committee at Fresno City College (FCC), this report proposes a program of skills instruction and services for underprepared students. Following a historical background, the report defines the underprepared student and outlines the assumptions about budget, course sequencing, and responsibility for curriculum…

An overview is provided of the characteristics and priorities of the Community College of Philadelphia (CCP), with special attention given to initiatives undertaken in 1987-88. Introductory comments assess the success of CCP in preserving access to educational opportunities, remaining faithful to its mission, ensuring academic integrity, helping…

There is a large body of well-conducted research that supports the value of freshmen orientation seminars in promoting the success of first-year students at community colleges. Orientation programs have been shown to improve retention, program completion, and the level of academic performance of these students. In addition to improving student…

Maine's York County Technical College (YCTC) developed a College Success Management course to help students learn and adopt strategies that promote their college success. In designing the course, a review of related literature was completed to determine the background and purposes of student success courses, data on student attrition, expected…

In an effort to provide nontraditional students with the same opportunity as traditional students to reach the highest level of skills and competencies associated with hi-tech, high-wage employment, the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) offers alternatives to its historically successful full-time day program in chemical technology.…

The Cornell Institute for Occupational Education has developed a system to aid community colleges in planning new vocational education programs. It includes two phases of decision-making and close, logical scrutiny of resources, students, local situations, and employment opportunities. (Author/NHM)

Described a program, HEAP, which attempted to humanize and personalize the junior college program for freshmen at Laredo Junior College in Texas. (Author/RK)

Recommendations and guidelines are presented for the educational diagnosis of students entering the Los Rios Community College District. The paper first underscores the need for a diagnostic process to help students assess their potential for academic success, and then recommends: (1) the assessment of past academic and work experience, basic…

This project was conducted to develop a curriculum for dental auxiliary training in the dental specialty field of oral and maxillofacial surgery. Research was conducted to identify the major functions performed by an oral surgery assistant and then to organize these functions into an educational program that would provide adequate didactic and…

A rationale for the design and maintenance of a multi-media instructional system is presented in this topical paper. Implications, such as developing instructional packages and behavioral objectives, that are important in designing a multi-media instructional program are also discussed. Once the idea of designing such a program has been accepted,…