Discusses the impact of fiscal contraction on community colleges. Explores how reduced state appropriations have adversely affected community college instruction and student support systems. Research shows that because instruction and student support services suffer when budget is reduced, fiscal contraction can hamper the ability of colleges to…

This digest describes community college honors programs with regard to their origins and goals, consistency with institutional missions, and effectiveness. Potential goals for honors programs at community colleges include: (1) providing advanced students an opportunity to learn more than they would in a non-honors curriculum; (2) retaining a…

This digest explores the status of Hispanic community college students and the factors that affect their enrollment and persistence in college. America's 1,076 community colleges educate over half of all minority students in higher education. Hispanics are underrepresented in four-year institutions, and over 55% of all Hispanic students enrolled…

Efforts have recently been undertaken to smooth the flow of students from community colleges to baccalaureate-granting institutions. Focusing on more than transfer of course credits, these efforts have involved multidimensional programs of cooperation with high schools and four-year institutions as well as programs which identify and assist…

This digest is drawn from "Transfer Students: Trends and Issues," the summer 2001 issue of New Directions for Community Colleges. Although community colleges in the United States have complex academic and vocational goals, the transfer function is of central importance to maintaining access to higher education. Community colleges provide…

In March 1990, the Center for the Study of Community Colleges in Los Angeles hosted a Transfer Assembly as part of an on-going effort to stabilize the imprecise definitions and data relating to student transfers from community colleges to four-year institutions. This report provides excerpts from six of the presentations given to the assembly.…

Presents a literature review of ERIC documents dealing with the transfer function of community colleges, college efforts to improve transfer rates, programs to assist women and minorities, and student financial aid issues. (AYC)

When compared with university freshmen, students beginning their collegiate studies at community colleges are less likely to attain a baccalaureate degree. After equating for differences in students' entering abilities, socioeconomic background, employment status, on-campus residence, and pattern of attendance, however, this discrepancy narrows.…

This digest examines community college transfer and articulation and presents suggestions for more effectively meeting the needs of students. Community colleges should provide a base of education, vocational or general, which enables students to transfer successfully to a four-year institution, reenter the workforce, and/or advance their careers.…

Designed as a forum for the discussion of the community college curriculum and transfer function, this volume traces the scope of the curriculum, transfer rates, and the relationship between the two. The following 10 chapters are included: (1) "All Access Is Not Equal: The Need for Collegiate Education in Community Colleges," by Judith S. Eaton;…

This spring 2002 issue of New Directions for Community Colleges reviews recent research on topics of importance to two-year colleges and identifies challenges and practical solutions. The 10 chapters include the following: (1) "Literature on Community Colleges: An Overview" (Trudy H. Bers and Harriott D. Calhoun); (2) "Transfer Rates: A…