The purpose of the study was to understand the institutional forces that constructed and shaped the function, nature of funding, and governance of Washtenaw Community College (WCC). This qualitative, historical case study built on organizational theory used archival research to identify themes and the institutional building blocks for the junior…

The most important components of an academic institution are the educational programs it offers. California Education Code and accreditation standards emphasize the essential nature of a college's educational programs to that college's existence, and often a college's programs reflect the individual personality of the college and the uniqueness of…

Among the diverse and varied missions of community colleges is the provision of instruction for students who have either been underserved by their previous educational institutions or not had the opportunity to complete high school. Included under this umbrella are low-performing high school students, individuals with low basic skills, and those…

Community college systems were established across North America from the early 1960s through the early 1970s. The new systems had two principal models: in one model, the college combined lower-division, university-level general education with technical education programs; in the other, most or all of the colleges were intended to concentrate on…

This paper examines the historical development and current structure of transfer mechanisms within British Columbia (Canada), as reflected in a selection of reports, research studies, policy documents, and conversations with post-secondary education specialists in the province. It reviews the growth of the higher education system in British…

Based on a week-long stay in Israel, this report examines regional colleges and other non-university, post-compulsory institutions in the Negev, as well as a community college and two American external-degree institutions in Jerusalem. After introducing the visit's purpose and activities, the report outlines the development of Israeli regional…

Discusses the development of Alabama's system of community junior colleges and technical institutes. (Author/RK)

This is an extensive study of Ann Arbor's first school desegregation effort, involving the 1965 closing of Jones elementary school and subsequent reassignment of its predominantly Negro population to predominantly white schools. The research focused on the first year of school desegregation, exploring academic, social, behavioral, and attitudinal…

Discusses the origins of California's community colleges and some major developments in their mission and functions, such as transfer programs and open enrollment; organization and structure, including governance and administrative structures; faculty and professional qualifications; and funding, fee policies, and student financial-aid…

This report analyzes the challenges posed to Western Iowa Tech Community College (WITCC) by national, state, and local trends, and offers a plan for institutional improvement and community development. Part I highlights the following issues of concern to the college: the changing nature of the workplace, new providers of postsecondary education,…

This report describes policy cooperation in the Education and Training Area in the European Union (EU) in response to the Lisbon strategy and provides a comprehensive plan to respond to the challenges of the knowledge society, globalization, and the enlargement of the EU. It focuses on these three objectives: (1) improving the quality and…

From their beginnings, community colleges have evolved and continually improved their mission to better serve community residents. Previously, two-year colleges were mainly private institutions, committed to occupational and professional preparation, general education, and academic transfer. After 1965, legislation provided federal funds to…