More than half of community college students nationwide intend to pursue a four-year degree; however, in Texas only one in four community college students transfer to four-year institutions successfully. Among students who do transfer to a Texas four-year institution, roughly 60 percent go on to graduate with a bachelor's degree. The result is…

Despite widely shared aspirations, the vast majority of community college students do not continue their studies at four-year colleges. In November 2013, "Jobs for the Future" convened higher education leaders and researchers to explore state-level policy strategies for restructuring community college in ways that enhance student…

Many states are experimenting with mechanisms for making college more affordable while maintaining quality and access. This report examines promising or innovative state programs to improve college affordability and credential attainment. Many of these approaches show innovative thinking and bear watching to see if they result in meaningful…

State-level interest in meeting workforce needs and facilitating adults' baccalaureate attainment is changing conceptions of the applied associate degree and the mission of the community college. In this article, the author draws on data from a recent study about the applied baccalaureate degree (Townsend and Bragg, 2008) to describe the growing…

In spring 2012, after a year of intensive data analysis and planning, the colleges participating in Completion by Design announced strategies for creating clear, structured routes through college for more students, often referred to as accelerated, structured pathways to completion. These strategies contain elements unique to each college, but all…

This "Policy Alert" summarizes an earlier report, State Policy and Community College-Baccalaureate Transfer, which examined the role of state policy in influencing community college-baccalaureate transfer. The "Policy Alert" looks at the importance of two-year to four-year transfer, and offers recommendations for improvement to…

Describes the work of a curriculum committee established to create a "transfer curriculum" for engineering technology students transferring from two-year to four-year programs. The resulting program (which allows flexibility while providing some guidance for engineering technology programs), transfer problems, issues, and public response…

Describes efforts undertaken in Texas to promote articulation between two- and four-year colleges and facilitate the transfer process. Focuses on the production and distribution of accurate transferability information, curriculum revisions, the activities of the North Texas Articulation Council, and the use of computers to aid in the transferral…

This report presents the findings of a national study initiated by the Ford Foundation to examine the policies affecting community college transfer, including obstacles to transfer and successful models for overcoming those obstacles. The first part of the document outlines current changes in higher education and identifies factors that encourage…

Recently the state legislatures in Texas and Arkansas have passed initiatives to maximize transfer effectiveness from two- to four-year institutions. These initiatives, and others being undertaken on a national level, were stimulated by the rising cost of higher education, a decline in transfer rates and low achievement among students who do…

The issue of recruitment of community college minority students who are underrepresented in higher education (Hispanics and Blacks) is complex and needs various programs which are unique and fit within the framework of the institution. Historical elements in Texas make it difficult to implement recruitment efforts. Recent statistics illustrate the…

Designed for the community college practitioner who may be considering initiating a student tracking system, this report draws upon selected writings and other sources to examine the potential role of student tracking systems in student outcomes research. The report examines the limited scope of community college longitudinal studies conducted to…