I have been reading a few community college focused reports so I decided to summarize the highlights here.

 

Report:  Reclaiming the American Dream;  Community College’s and the Nation’s Future

 

From the American Association of Community Colleges

Here is a link to some background information on the report.

Sections:               Imperiled Dream

Education and National Progress

Redesigning the Community College

Essential Elements in Institutional Transformation

 

Recommendations:

1.  Community colleges need to rethink their role and mission
2. The US will need to find an additional 15-20 million employees as an aging workforce retires.
3. The US economy has a growing reliance on college educated workers, with an emphasis on community college, Associate of Applied Science, prepared workers.
4. In 2007, 59%, of employed Americans needed some sort of post-secondary credentials, could approach 2/3 of Americans by 2018.
   1. We have created a “service industry” (low wage/low skill economy) because we have under produced college graduates since 1980.
5. Fewer than 50% of students who enter community colleges have the goal of attaining a degree.
6. Less than 1/3 of entering student do not attend orientations and less than 1/3 have the assistance of college advisors.  76% never access tutoring services.
7. Remediation of students who need it may take up to three years.
   1. Transition from high school to college is rocky.
8. When planning on going to college students do not consider the employment outlook of their chosen field.
9. Overall based on career plans of entering community college students we will only meet 19% of the demand, for skilled workers,  by the workforce.
10. Community College need to cultivate a new generation of leaders to replace the upcoming wave of retirements by baby boomers.
11. Technology underpins everything (operations, academics and support services) at community colleges.
    1. Data collected and reported
    2. Communications
    3. Educational content delivery
    4. Achieving and measuring educational outcomes
12. Support for the open door mission of the community colleges.
    1. How to preserve access which emphasizes student success, enhancing quality, and closing attainment gaps
    2. Must have support for student success
13. American Association for Community Colleges proposes establishing a 21^st Century Center which will coordinate the implementation of the commission’s recommendations.
14. Promote college and career readiness at the high school level, assessment and working with secondary education.
15. Curriculum alignment with high schools and close collaboration
    1. Common core state standards
    2. Redesign student’s educational experiences

i.      Increase completion rates, degree attainment

ii.      Improve college readiness

iii.      Close the skills gap by sharply focusing on career and tech education

1. Reinvent institutional roles

i.      Refocus the community college mission and redefine institutional roles to meet 21^st century and education needs

ii.      Invest in support structures to serve multiple community colleges through collaboration among institutions and with partners in philanthropy, government and the private sector.

iii.      Target public and private investment strategically to create new incentives for all institutions of education and the students and to support community college efforts to reclaim the American Dream.

iv.      Implement policies and procedures that promote rigor and transparency for results in a community college.

Some links from this report:

 

Center on Education and Workforce: http://cew.georgetown.edu/

 

 

2011:  The College Completion Agenda Progress Report:

 

From the College Board

 

The goal:  Increase the proportion of 25-34 year olds who hold an associate’s degree or higher to 55% by the year 2025 in order to make American the leader in educational attainment in the world.

 

The Recommendations:

1. Provide a program of voluntary preschool education universally available to children from a low income family.
2. Improve middle and high school counseling
3. Implement the best research based dropout prevention programs
4. Align K-12 education system with international standards and college admissions expectations.
5. Improve teach quality and focus on recruitment and retention.
6. Clarify and simplify the admissions process
7. Provide more need based grants and while simplifying the financial aid system and making it more transparent.
8. Keep college affordable
9. Dramatically increase college completion rates.
10. Provide post-secondary opportunities as an essential elements of adult education programs.

 

US ranks 12^th in the percentage of 25-34 year olds with an associate degree or higher.

 

#1-preschool or kindergarten programs help individuals develop a variety of skills that will contribute to a productive workforce in the future.

Early learning challenge fund

Data quality campaign

State preschool yearbook

#2 Improve middle school and high school counseling.

Establish professional norms for staffing middle and high school counseling offices and that colleges and universities collaborate actively to provide college’s information and planning services to all students.

 

The importance of taking college preparation courses:

1.  Student to counselor ratios
2. Student to college counselor ratio
3. Number of statewide comprehensive school counselor programs
4. Professional development for secondary school—college counselors
5. Percentage of counselor time spent on task