Community College Missions in the 21st Century New Directions for Community Colleges, Number 136

by Townsend, Barbara K.; Dougherty, Kevin J.

• ISBN13: 9780787995751
• ISBN10: 0787995754
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-01-16
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass

Summary

This volume reexamines the community college's functional missions in the context of both long-established and emerging societal missions. Written for college leaders, scholars, and policymakers, Community College Missions in the 21 st Century addresses the most pressing questions concerning community colleges, including: Is the societal mission of a community college to provide postsecondary education to students who might not otherwise obtain it, or to be responsive to the needs of local communities, including business and industry? Should its dominant functional mission be to provide transfer education so that students can eventually attain a baccalaureate, or should the institution concentrate on workforce training and continuing education? Given demographic shifts and pressures to be accountable and demonstrate student learning, are the traditional community college missions still relevant?What makes discussions of community college missions so intriguing is that the answer to each of these questions is potentially yes, depending on one's perspective on the role of community colleges in America's education system. This volume examines these questions and others through various perspectives, using specific case studies and examining broader, more national perspectives.This is the 136 th volume of New Directions for Community Colleges, a quarterly journal published by Jossey-Bass.Click here to view the entire list of titles from New Directions for Community Colleges.

Table of Contents

Editors' Notes

Community College Missions: A Theoretical and Historical Perspective

This chapter analyzes various conceptualizations of the missions of the community college, examines variations in these missions over time and across states and regions, discusses conflicts in mission, and speculates about the future of community college missions

A Case for the Community College's Open Access Mission

This chapter discusses the myriad economic, social, and political threats to the open access mission of America's community colleges

Appraising the Efficacy of Civic Education at the Community College

This chapter discusses obstacles to and opportunities for the success of the community college's societal mission of education for civic competence

The Transfer Mission: Tried and True, But Troubled?

The community college's transfer mission is experiencing both challenges and opportunities due to changing demographics and governmental interest in baccalaureate attainment

Prioritizing Service to the Academically Talented: The Honors College

Honors programs and colleges, including the Honors College at Miami Dade College, are examined in terms of their appropriateness to the community college mission of open access and egalitarianism

The Uncertain Future of the Community College Workforce Development Mission

This chapter describes the evolution of the community college workforce development mission, the crisis it is currently facing, and alternative future paths, including a "new vocationalism" and an emphasis on meeting the needs of low-income adults

Emerging Institutional Support for Developmental Education

A case study of emerging institutional support for developmental education at Davidson County Community College

Competing Missions: Balancing Entrepreneurialism with Community Responsiveness in Community College Continuing Education Divisions

Drawing on the results of a national survey, the authors describe community college continuing education programs and analyze the impact of shifting economic and institutional factors

Enrollment Management in the Comprehensive Community College: A Case Study of Bronx Community College

Using Bronx Community College

Prioritizing Community College Missions: A Directional Effort

The chapter delineates the essential elements of a framework for establishing mission priorities for community colleges

INDEX

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