A comprehensive analysis of community colleges in the United States--updated with the latest researchThe revised seventh edition of The American Community College is an essential resource for practitioners and graduate students in the field of higher education. This book has been providing up-to-date information and statistics about community colleges for four decades and is a trusted and revered reference. Covering community college students, faculty, curriculum, assessment, finance, governance, and more, this book provide a thorough understanding of the role community colleges play in the American educational system. For educators, policymakers, and philanthropists alike, community colleges are important as the nexus of national efforts to prepare a highly skilled workforce and as the lynchpin of the K-20 education pipeline. This book delivers the facts and context readers need to make informed decisions in the community college space.Written by leading researchers in the field, The American Community College has been thoroughly revised with a greater focus on equity. Further, this edition includes access to online supplemental materials, including end-of-chapter guiding questions and a guide for transitioning from the 6th to the 7th edition. Additional updates include coverage of collaborations with community, economic, and workforce development organizations; a greater focus on entrepreneurship and innovation; recent efforts to improve student persistence and attainment through guided pathways and equity-minded student supports; and the growing emphasis on preparing a skilled workforce via noncredit training, credit for prior learning, micro-credentials, and community college baccalaureate programs. Readers of The American Community College will:* Benefit from a comprehensive analysis of the most recent findings and up-to-date information on the American community college.* Find completely revised and updated information about recent changes in the community college landscape* Obtain current information on student access and outcomes, instruction, student services, and curricular functions* Learn from updated tables and graphs that reflect the most current data and incorporate new examples of the services that colleges provideSince it was first published in 1982, The American Community College has become the primary resource that faculty, administrators, trustees, and researchers look to for information on these quintessentially American institutions.

Preface viiAcknowledgments xviiAbout the Authors xix1. Background: Evolving Priorities and Expectations of the Community College 12. Students: Diverse Backgrounds and Purposes 473. Faculty: Building a Professional Identity 874. Governance, Organization, and Administration: Managing the Contemporary College 1195. Finances: Generating, Sustaining, and Allocating Resources 1636. Teaching and Learning: Methods, Media, and Effects 2017. Student Services: Supporting Educational Objectives 2318. Developmental Education: Enhancing Literacy and the Likelihood of Success in College 2659. Integrative Education: General Education for the Twenty- First Century 29710. Liberal Arts and the Transfer Function: Preparation for the University 31911. Occupational Education: Growth and Change in Workforce Preparation 34512. Serving the Community: Extending College Services and Training 38713. Student Progress and Outcomes: A Focus on Equity and Accountability 41514. Scholarship and Commentary: Perspectives of the Community College 45915. Toward the Future: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities 481Appendix: For- Profit Institutions 511References 537Name Index 611Subject Index 621