This report examines the effects of 3 successive years of tight state budgets, rising student fees, layoffs of part-time instructors, and reduced class offerings on the ability of California community colleges to meet constituent needs. Drawing from interviews with college administrators, faculty members, state officials, and educational…

Project AFFIRM (African-American First Investment Return Module) was established at Evergreen Community College in fall 1989 as a comprehensive academic and support program to help African-American students achieve their college transfer or associate degree goals. AFFIRM courses combine career and economic prosperity components into life plan…

This action plan for Centralia College in Washington attempts to establish achievable goals, measurable objectives, and appropriate timelines to improve the participation and success of people of color at the college, as both students and staff. Introductory material explains the state mandate for colleges to develop action plans, the way in with…

This study of student-facilitated study groups at Brooks Community College explores how students structured the study group experience and what type of interaction occurred during the group sessions. The study groups were created for high content introductory courses in which high percentages of students had been unsuccessful. Student leaders were…

A project was undertaken at San Juan College, in New Mexico, to examine findings from several studies of student persistence and retention to shed light on factors influencing persistence at the college. The project took into account several definitions of persistence, including re-enrollment in the subsequent semester (semester to semester),…

A study was conducted at the Community College of Allegheny County, in Pennsylvania, to compared the level of preparedness in an intermediate algebra course for students who placed directly into the course and those who had tested into and completed a basic algebra course. Placement test scores, algebra course grades, and repeat status were…

In September 1994, Vincennes University (VU), in Illinois, conducted a broad-based survey of student and community perceptions as a part of its self-study process in preparation for North Central Accreditation (NCA) in 1995. The survey instrument was distributed via a single mailing to all 15 trustees, all 972 full-time employees, all 353…

Intended as a forum for the discussion of postsecondary accreditation, this book addresses pragmatic issues such as constituent satisfaction, cost, and redundant efforts, as well as such strategic concerns as accreditation's potential to provide leadership in the areas of transfer, articulation, and general education. The following 10 chapters are…

The New York University Symposium on Urban Community Colleges examined the distinctions between urban and non-urban community colleges, the role of urban community colleges in linking high schools and universities and in promoting local economic development, and methods of identifying and developing leaders for these institutions. No definitive…

A study was conducted to determine the earnings made by students while enrolled at Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) in California, and during their first and third years after leaving SBCC. The study, which compared employment status and earnings by occupational field, and outcomes for associate-degree completers and those earning 12 or more…

Many women in two-year colleges are returning to education after having been away from a school setting for an extended period of time. In a community college writing class, written comments to a teacher on the first day of class indicated that women were considerably less self-confident than the men, with several revealing fear of expressing…

By applying the principles of total quality management (TQM), freshman composition can be taught in a way that focuses on the customer (the student), engenders a willingness for continuous improvement, builds quality into the process of writing, empowers the student to become responsible for his/her work, and allows students to make the necessary…

This 1997 annual report describes major initiatives and outcomes for students, programs, faculty and staff, and finances at Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI). Highlighted are some of the steps the college has taken to address its priorities in meeting modern challenges. A message from the president reviews four top priorities for 1997,…

This study examines the association between the number of study group sessions a student attends, the student's attitude toward these sessions, and expected grade for the class. Seven hundred and two students participated in the study, 30% of whom never attended a study group session. Of the remaining 70% who did participate, 24% attended five or…

In order to provide information about community college student transfer behavior, this study examines results from a series of freshman cohorts. It describes trends in student transfer from Illinois community colleges to four-year institutions between fall 1990 and spring 1995. The primary transfer rate and selected secondary rates from the…