59th State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO) Annual Meeting“Resetting” America’s Community Colleges to Reclaim the American

Dream: Report of the AACC 21st Century Commission on the Future of Community Colleges

Jerry Sue Thornton, Ph.D.President

Cuyahoga Community College

The Renaissance Seattle HotelFriday, July 13, 2012

Setting the Stage

Community colleges serve as a gateway to higher education and as a result the middle class.◦In 2010, enrollment reached 13.3 million students in

credit and non-credit courses.

Community Colleges enroll almost half of U.S. undergraduate students

The Challenges Student success rates, however, are:◦Unacceptably low, ◦Employment preparation is not adequately

connected to job market needs, and◦Handoffs between high schools, community

colleges, & baccalaureate institutions are frequently dropped.

The Challenges (continued)• The U.S., formerly the leader, now ranks 16th in the world in

college completion rates for 25-34-year-olds.

• By 2018, nearly 2/3 of all American jobs will require a postsecondary certificate, associate or baccalaureate degree.

• By adding 20 million postsecondary-educated workers over the next 15 years, income inequality will decline, reversing the decline of the middle class.

AACC’s Two-Phase Approach

• Phase I–Listening Tour

• Phase II–Creation in 2011 of the 21st Century Commission

on the Future of Community Colleges

Phase I – Listening Tour• More than 1,300 stakeholders – Students, faculty and staff, administrators, trustees, state

policymakers, college presidents and chancellors

• Visited 13 cities in 10 U.S. regions, Jan – Nov 20111. Austin, TX2. Detroit, MI3. Washington, DC4. Tallahassee, FL5. Jamestown, NC6. River Grove, IL7. Columbus, OH8. New York, NY9. Anaheim, CA10. Martinez, CA11. Des Moines, IA12. Harrisburg, PA13. Grand Island, NE

Phase II – 21st Century Commission Two-fold mandate: ◦ Safeguard the fundamental mission of community

colleges; and ◦ Challenge community colleges to imagine a new

future, while ensuring the success of community college students, institutions and our nation.

About the Commission• Thirty-eight members from higher education, education policy

and business. – Chair, Walter Bumphus, President & CEO of AACC– Co-Chairs,• Augustine Gallego, Chairman Emeritus, San Diego Community College

District• Kay McClenney, Director, Center for Community College Student

Engagement, The University of Texas at Austin• Jerry Sue Thornton, President, Cuyahoga Community College, Ohio

• Funding provided by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Kresge Foundation, ACT, and Educational Testing Service.

Essence of the Commission’s Report

• The American dream is at risk.

• Because a highly educated population is fundamental to economic growth and a vibrant democracy, community colleges can help reclaim that dream.

 • Stepping up to this challenge will require dramatic redesign

of our institutions, their mission, and most critically, their students’ educational experiences.

21st Century Commission on the Future of Community Colleges

A call for a new vision for community colleges grounded in the “Three Rs”:

◦ Redesign students’ educational experiences;

◦ Reinvent institutional roles; and

◦ Reset the system to create incentives for student and institutional success.

AACC Recommendation #1

Completion

◦Degrees◦Certificates◦Degrees by transfer

Redesign Students’ Educational Experiences

AACC Recommendation #2

College Readiness/Developmental Education

◦ Support/assist K-12 actions related to college readiness◦ Improve developmental education delivery

Math emporia Developmental gaming Uri Treisman’s research – Carnegie Foundation (Quantway/Statway) Faculty development and training Increased academic/student support (tutoring) Supplemental education

Redesign Students’ Educational Experiences

AACC Recommendation #3

Re-configure workforce training

◦Develop “stackable” credentials◦Create short-term certificates◦Fill the “true” skills gap◦Define labor needs, supported with data

Redesign Students’ Educational Experiences

AACC Recommendation #4

Mission and institutional roles

◦Access (Open Door)◦Success◦Multiple delivery modes (open entry-open exit)◦Faculty as coaches/brokers of education◦Forums for discussions (Boards/Faculty/Partners)

Reinvent Institutional Roles

AACC Recommendation #5

Collaboration and partnerships

◦Support structures to serve collaboration (community colleges, philanthropy, government and the private sector) Partnerships and consortia Strengthen credentialing through rigorous assessment

and transparent documentation

Reinvent Institutional Roles

AACC Recommendation #6

Public and private investments/Reclaim the American Dream

◦ Increase advocacy at all levels◦ Incentives for student performance and progress◦Funding strategies ◦Public funding models◦Accessible and interactive statewide data systems

Reset the System to Create Incentives for Student and Institutional Success

AACC Recommendation #7

Rigor, transparency and accountability

◦Degree Qualifications Profile◦Leverage the influence and collective purchasing power for

development of learning outcomes assessments◦State data systems needed to track students on their

educational and career pathways◦Voluntary Framework of Accountability

Reset the System to Create Incentives for Student and Institutional Success

Next Steps• Successful AACC convention in Orlando, FL April 21-

23–More than 2,200 attendees from across the country– Highly responsive and positive reaction to report

• Commission members are traveling across the country to discuss the report and its recommendations

Next Steps (continued)• AACC will:

– Establish an implementation task force

– Create an AACC 21st-Century Center

–Widely disseminate the report

– Conduct proactive outreach by AACC and Commission members

 

Support flexible policies, rules and regulations (e.g., program development regulations)

Review and revise state rules and regulations that hamper competition Assess and recommend appropriate funding formulas (advocate for

removal of funding inequities) Advocate, provide direction and oversight re. foundation investments

(review differences in funding of community colleges vs. four-year institutions, for example)

Assist with institutional resource reallocation Influence the alignment of the Common Core State Standards

What can the State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO) do regionally

and nationally?

 

Help define accountability (e.g., completion rates/IPEDS) Advocate for increased higher education credentials Work toward the lessening of the gap between workforce need and

worker availability Advocate and educate toward efficiencies (better use of financial

resources) Develop relationships and work with regional accreditation bodies Work with higher education partners on job market needs (career

planning gap, degree gap, underfunding [especially developmental education programs], equity, help identify optimal collaborations and partnerships, etc.)

What can the State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO) do regionally

and nationally? (cont.)

We Own It!