Background: Most community college students from low-income families have ambitious educational degree goals, but only a small fraction attains them. For many decades, sociologists have primarily attributed this problem to a cooling out process in which college practitioners diminish students' educational ambitions using academic reorientation…

Career and technical education (CTE) students pursuing occupational associate's degrees or certificates differ from students seeking academic majors at 2-year institutions in several ways. This article examines several theoretical models of student persistence and offers a conceptual model of student success focused on CTE students in community…

Describes the process by which Yakima Valley Community College developed a mission statement reflecting community needs and the fiscal status of the state's educational institutions. Considers the characteristics of students, faculty, setting and content, and details needs identified by faculty. Presents the college's statements of philosophy,…

Examines issues and problems related to the measurement of community college outcomes in relation to mission and goals. Presents a model for outcomes evaluation at the community college which derives from the mission statement and provides evaluative comment and comparison with institutional and national norms. (DMM)

Argues that general education differs from liberal education in its underlying assumptions, ideological orientations, pedagogical methods, curricular structures, and ultimate aims. Contends that understanding these differences is important to curricular reform. (DMM)

Considers the general education component of technical programs as a means of helping adults adjust to today's industrial changes in processes, machines, and management and thereby to hold jobs, move into new ones, and change careers. Reviews the literature on the general education needs of students in high technology programs and models for…

Authors considered the responsibility of community colleges for the education of adult students, some prerequisites for effectively dealing with adult students, and proposed a workable model for adult education in the community college. (Author/RK)

Describes how faculty and administrators at Washtenaw Community College (WCC) strengthened general education requirements by identifying 24 core learning elements and incorporating them into existing classes. Provides advice for other colleges undergoing core curriculum revision. (17 citations) (YKH)