Community College Resources
- Community College JournalThe journal of the American Association of Community Colleges.
- Chronicle of Higher Education This link opens in a new windowStay informed with the latest news about and affecting community colleges.
Learn More About Community Colleges
Gateway to Opportunity? by
Can the U.S. keep its dominant economic position in the world economy with only 30% of its population holding bachelor's degrees? If the majority of U.S. citizens lack a higher education, can the U.S. live up to its democratic principles and preserve its political institutions? These questions raise the critical issue of access to higher education, central to which are America's open-access, low-cost community colleges that enroll around half of all first-time freshmen in the U.S. Can these institutions bridge the gap, and how might they do so? The answer is complicated by multiple missions--gateways to 4-year colleges, providers of occupational education, community services, and workforce development, as well as of basic skills instruction and remediation. To enable today's administrators and policy makers to understand and contextualize the complexity of the present, this history describes and analyzes the ideological, social, and political motives that led to the creation of community colleges, and that have shaped their subsequent development. In doing so, it fills a large void in our knowledge of these institutions. The "junior college," later renamed the "community college" in the 1960s and 1970s, was originally designed to limit access to higher education in the name of social efficiency. Subsequently leaders and communities tried to refashion this institution into a tool for increased social mobility, community organization, and regional economic development. Thus, community colleges were born of contradictions, and continue to be an enigma. This history examines the institutionalization process of the community college in the United States, casting light on how this educational institution was formed, for what purposes, and how has it evolved. It uncovers the historically conditioned rules, procedures, rituals, and ideas that ordered and defined the particular educational structure of these colleges; and focuses on the individuals, organizations, ideas, and the larger political economy that contributed to defining the community college's educational missions, and have enabled or constrained this institution from enacting those missions. He also sets the history in the context of the contemporary debates about access and effectiveness, and traces how these colleges have responded to calls for accountability from the 1970s to the present. Community colleges hold immense promise if they can overcome their historical legacy and be re-institutionalized with unified missions, clear goals of educational success, and adequate financial resources. This book presents the history in all its complexity so that policy makers and practitioners might better understand the constraints of the past in an effort to realize the possibilities of the future.
Call Number: Online BookISBN: 1579225314Publication Date: 2012-03-01
Teachin' It! by
"How can I tailor instruction to redress the wide variety of gaps in student content knowledge and college skills while simultaneously holding all students to high academic standards?" "How can I create inclusive classrooms where the diverse perspectives and approaches of all students--especially those from backgrounds different than my own--are illuminated and valued?" Teachin' It! is a hands-on guide to cutting-edge research and classroom strategies that redress the graduation gap in community and open-access colleges. Drawing from the author's 30 years in the education field as a math and college skills instructor, teacher educator, and researcher, this book describes an asset-based model that bolsters the success of all students, especially those underrepresented with 4-year degrees. These include students of color, first-generation college students, LGBTQ+ students, and students with disabilities. Readers will discover new strategies to create equitable, engaging, interactive classroom environments where students from all backgrounds feel safe to take risks, make mistakes, share their unique approaches and perspectives, and develop their own identities as powerful lifelong learners. Topics include inquiry-based learning, implicit bias, growth mindset, stereotype threat, scaffolding, college and career skills, and a community of learners. Book Features: Illustrates how instructors can disrupt larger systemic inequities by creating safe, interactive learning environments where all students develop as adult learners. Translates complex education theory and neuroscience research using real-life classroom examples and student and instructor narratives. Demonstrates over 50 strategies that instructors can pilot the very next day in their own disciplines and classrooms, and explains the reasons why these strategies work. Draws from the author's own classroom and research experiences to illustrate how to effectively implement Stanford's academic mindset strategies.
Call Number: Faculty & Staff Shelves FAC LB2328 .D27 2019ISBN: 9780807761588Publication Date: 2019-06-28
FOCUS on Community College Success by
Now in its 5th Edition, FOCUS ON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SUCCESS, gives new students the tools, tenacity, and confidence to succeed in college and beyond! Packed with strategies that help community college students break through the special challenges of juggling school, family, and work, this resource propels students boldly into the future with activities that help them build the laser focus they need to cut through distractors, master coursework, transfer to four-year colleges, and achieve career goals. Updated with the latest, forward-thinking research from academic journals and practical career sources, this resource includes entrance and exit interviews to track academic growth, chapter content on managing personal finances, advice for career planning, and more, along with the MindTap learning platform that makes students unstoppable! New for 2021: Empower your students to connect the dots between what they�re learning now and their current or future careers with �How Transferable Are Your Skills?� � a new MindTap activity that challenges students to identify how their personal and academic experiences can help them become career-ready.
Call Number: Reserve Shelves LB2343.3 .S727 2019ISBN: 9781337406123Publication Date: 2018-01-01
