Factors to consider when studying attrition are: (1) the academic reasons students drop out or are suspended; (2) the institutional definitions of attrition; and (3) the procedures used to monitor the successes or failures of students. A recent University of Texas study of literacy developed at the community college included a mini-study of…

An instructor had an experience in which both she and a student grew by taking risks. In the process of evaluating English compositions, the instructor found a student's paper that lacked the mechanics of writing but showed creativity and maturity. Working closely with this student the instructor discovered how quickly he learned. Although they…

"Innovation Abstracts" consists of brief, two-page write-ups issued approximately 40 times a year on topics that contribute to staff development. This compilation represents a selection from the 1984 volume of 22 numbers of special interest to community college faculty, administrators, and staff. The numbers selected are; (1) fragments…

More than an interdisciplinary format employing lecturers from different disciplines, team teaching is an approach which involves true team work between two qualified instructors who, together, make presentations to an audience. The instructional advantages of team teaching include: (1) the elimination of lecture-style instruction in favor of a…

This document is a series of short papers (47) on topics of interest to community college instructors and practitioners. The topics covered in the papers include: study and writing tips for students, teaching strategies and tips, descriptions of innovative programs, using technology in teaching and learning, interacting with students, and…

A study was conducted to investigate the current status of post-tenure faculty evaluation in the community college. Questionnaires were mailed to 1,290 tenured and non-tenured faculty and 421 administrators at 9 community colleges. Study findings, based on a 50.1% response rate, included the following: (1) 77% of the respondents indicated that…

"In Search of Excellence," by Peters and Waterman identifies one characteristic of corporate excellence as "unusual effort on the part of apparently ordinary employees." The community college has many students who fit into the category of "ordinary people." Their academic performance can be maximized by recognizing their individual differences,…

This series of one- and two-page abstracts highlights a variety of innovative approaches to teaching and learning in the community college. Topics covered in the articles include the use of Hollywood films as a tool for teaching history; displaced homemaker programs; the relationship between teaching and scholarship; helping students write for the…

A writing-across-the-curriculum program has been initiated at the East Campus of Pima Community College in an effort to improve student literacy. The program operates in the following manner: (1) faculty in all disciplines on campus are asked to get involved in the program, those who participate being paid a one-time fee of $100 for their efforts;…

When a college conducts an accreditation self-study, it is best to begin by addressing basic philosophical questions about the college's mission and goals. American River College in Sacramento, California, began its process by responding to the following questions: (1) Can we be all things to all people? (2) Does open door mean open curriculum?…

A cooperative project between community colleges in the Northeast and the Universities Field Staff International (UFSI) which sought to add an international dimension to existing community college curricula is described. Two objectives of the project are listed: to broaden faculty and administrative interest and skills in international studies;…

The 52 abstracts in these 29 serial issues describe innovative approaches to teaching and learning in the community college. Sample topics include reading motivation, barriers to academic success, the learning environment, writing skills, leadership in the criminal justice profession, role-playing strategies, cooperative education, distance…

The media production department of Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) began quality circle meetings in January 1981 after studying the process of quality circles and obtaining the understanding and support of the college administration. A quality circle is a small group of people doing similar work who voluntarily meet on a regular basis to…

Inviting carefully selected guests into the classroom can help students recognize the blending of theory and practice and involve students more intimately in the learning process. For example, a first-person account by a mother of a handicapped child might have a greater impact on the listener than books, films, or lectures. Effective…

This series of one- to two-page abstracts highlights a variety of innovative approaches to teaching and learning in the community college. Topics covered in the abstracts include: (1) academic partnerships pairing "high-risk" students with a concerned faculty member, counselor, or administrator; (2) teacher-to-teacher learning partnerships; (3)…