Defending the Community College Equity Agenda

Abstract

The community college mission to provide accessible and affordable higher education for Americans, is being increasingly challenged by economic, political and social developments such as decreasing funding combined with growing enrolments, a greater emphasis on outcome-based accountability, competition from for-profit institutions, and a growing immigrant student population. These challenges are compounded by economic and workforce development pressures that could affect the capacity of colleges to fulfill their mission. This edited volume draws on case studies of colleges in six states to examine how these challenges impact the community college's mission of educational opportunity and how they can maintain their open-door policies and support students to complete qualifications that prepare them successfully for jobs. Particular focus is given to how colleges can serve low-income students of colour and other under-served groups. The authors propose a set of strategies to strengthen the role of colleges in providing both access and student achievement for all students. The chapters are as follows: Introduction: defending the community college equity agenda / Thomas Bailey and Vanessa Smith Morest (pp.1-27); Double vision: how the attempt to balance multiple missions is shaping the future of community colleges / Vanessa Smith Morest (pp.28-50); Performance accountability as imperfect panacea: the community college experience / Kevin J. Dougherty and Esther Hong (pp.51-86); Increasing competition and the growth of the for-profits / Thomas Bailey (pp.87-109); Virtual access / Rebecca D. Cox (pp.110-131); The limits of 'training for now': lessons from information technology certification / Jim Jacobs and W. Norton Grubb (pp.132-154); 'Lights just click on every day' / Dolores Perin and Kerry Charron (pp.155-194); 'Like, what do I do now?': the dilemmas of guidance counseling / W. Norton Grubb (pp.195-222); Twice the credit, half the time?: the growth of dual credit at community colleges and high schools / Vanessa Smith Morest and Melinda Mechur Karp (pp.223-245); The community college equity agenda in the twenty-first century: moving from access to achievement / Thomas Bailey and Vanessa Smith Morest (pp.246-270). Includes an extensive reference list.

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