Chosen by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools for a 1974 Case Study, Sullivan County Community College (New York) established five committees to conduct institutional research in preparation for visitation by association representatives. The activities of the governance committee and the benefits of combined internal…

Reviews the comprehensive mission of rural community colleges, arguing that they are major elements in the life of their service areas and must meet community needs. Describes the role of rural college presidents and the importance of environmental scanning. Reviews challenges facing rural institutions in the future. (MAB)

Discusses the importance of environmental scanning in the planning efforts of rural community colleges. Reviews basic techniques and terminology and suggests sources of data. Argues that environmental scanning allows rural colleges to inexpensively forecast change, identify implications for the organization, and plan preferred responses to shape…

Presents an annotated bibliography of 27 current ERIC documents focusing on rural community colleges. Covers student programs, community programs, access to education, and tribal colleges. Indicates that most ERIC documents listed in the bibliography can be viewed on microfiche at libraries worldwide. (MAB)

Offers background on rural entrepreneurship and incubation in the United States, with particular focus on rural incubators at community colleges and regional incubation systems. Explains how incubators, which provide shared services and business/management assistance for tenant companies, differ from other entrepreneurial development strategies.…

This document provides an annotated bibliography of recent ERIC documents describing the benefits and pitfalls of collaborations between community colleges and high schools. Includes case studies illustrating exemplary programs, programs focusing on special populations, and lessons from the field. (Contains 11 references.) (PGS)

Examines strategies for supporting program development in rural community colleges while simultaneously supporting the institutional mission and ensuring economic feasibility, quality, and excellence. Describes techniques for assessing program viability, ensuring program quality, and taking advantage of new opportunities for change. (14 citations)…

Presents a community-based model for bringing decision makers in rural communities together to act as a coordinating body to deal with community transitions. Indicates that rural community colleges can bring leaders from education, government, and the private sector to focus on strategies to maximize existing resources through careful leveraging…

Examines the history, current status, and future role in higher education of the nation's 26 tribal colleges. Indicates that they meet the unique educational needs of reservation-based Native Americans better than other higher education institutions. Suggests that tribal colleges should work with other institutions to improve educational quality.…

Reviews problems facing rural women and minorities, the special educational needs of these populations, and strains on resources of rural community colleges. Provides a context for improving educational services, suggesting that rural colleges emphasize collaboration and coalition building with constituencies in their service areas. (20 citations)…

Discusses demographic and technological changes that have increased the use of distance education among community colleges. Describes implications for rural colleges embracing distance education to meet the needs of their students. Indicates that successful implementations include careful assessment of student needs, integration into institutional…

Describes a study of rural students' motivations for enrolling in distance education programs and the implications for rural community colleges. Indicates that respondents cited the location of the course and interest in course content as reasons for enrolling and that motivations included degree seeking, information seeking, and job enhancement.…

Offers an overview of contemporary problems facing rural areas and challenges for rural community colleges in addressing these issues. Argues that the divide between rural and urban needs must be bridged and that rural community colleges have a central role as educational providers and community organizational leaders. (MAB)

Provides a case study of issues facing the president of James Sprunt Community College, a small rural institution in North Carolina. Reviews issues of funding, planning, and leadership and organization and describes results of efforts to reposition the college and increase its effectiveness as a community organization. (35 citations) (MAB)

Explores ways that rural community colleges can develop collaborations and relationships that foster educational access and economic development. Discusses the Rural Community College Initiative, a program that assists colleges in the United States' most distressed rural areas in designing locally effective educational practices. (EMH)