Innovations
October
2010
As technology becomes increasingly important in the 21st century, there is a growing need for students to obtain the knowledge and skills that will prepare them for careers requiring competency in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). In a world driven by technological change, students without a strong background in STEM are limiting their futures.
Because of the important role they play in educating tomorrow's workforce, community colleges are a key element in bolstering the knowledge and skills of today?s students. Community colleges are answering the call for more...
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October
2010
Wallace State Community College in Hanceville recently celebrated the grand opening of its Advanced Visualization Center. The Advanced Visualization Center is a comprehensive state-of-the-art learning center for developing and implementing innovative, engaging curricula for education and workforce development. The center includes virtual and simulated environments, 3-D and 4-D object development labs, 3-D immersive experiences, and telepresence conference areas. Ten labs overseen by the center have been installed in five locations across campus.
"The technologically-advanced teaching and...
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September
2010
Most college student affairs divisions have a variety of services in place to help retain students. The challenge we face is getting students, especially those who need our services most, to take advantage of those services. Thus, in recent years, the traditional "field of dreams" model of providing student retention services on campuses has yielded to a much more intrusive approach. The logic of the past was that if we provided a healthy menu of services and programs--a la cart programs--students would naturally select the needed services or at least take advantage of those programs and...
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August
2010
Lori always dreamed of becoming a nurse, but the demands of raising three children kept that dream on hold for several years. When she and her husband felt the timing was right, Lori enrolled in the nursing program at Moraine Valley Community College (MVCC) to pursue her dream.
Returning to school was not easy. In the beginning, Lori and her husband had to juggle the demands of work, family, and college, but her dream of becoming a nurse kept them moving forward. With little discretionary household income, they also struggled with many financial obstacles in order to pay for tuition, fees,...
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June
2010
Many colleges and universities across the United States have lost students called up for military service in Iraq or Afghanistan, and Santa Fe College (SFC) is no exception. In April of 2003, Sgt. John Travis Rivero was killed at the age of 23 in a Humvee accident in the Iraqi desert. Three months later, Sgt. Jeffrey Mattison Wershow was killed at age 22 in a terrorist attack while providing security for American educators visiting Baghdad University.
Both former Santa Fe students were from Gainesville, Florida, and both served in the 2nd Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment of the Florida...
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Established 28 years ago, the League's Innovation of the Year Award was devised as a way to recognize significant innovations reflecting capstone achievements and the continuing renewal of the spirit of innovation and experimentation upon which the League was founded. The award is designed to recognize faculty, staff, and administrators at member colleges who have designed and implemented a significant innovation. Granting this award provides a venue for showcasing these innovations and the dedicated community college educators who are working to create new programs, improve processes, and...
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May
2010
With just over a half century of history to its name, Cayuga Community College is a youngster in a region sculpted by glaciers. But this relative upstart has taken on a major role in revitalizing the economic landscape. That's the goal, as Cayuga infuses entrepreneurship into its academics and outreach.
For college President Daniel Larson, a career in higher education led from Missouri to Michigan to the State University of New York (SUNY), a 64-campus network of nearly a half-million students. Since taking the helm in 2007 at Cayuga, one of SUNY's 30 community colleges, Larson has fostered...
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Central Lakes College (CLC) and Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program (RMCEP), in Brainerd and Staples, Minnesota, were recently recognized at the National 2010 Careers Conference, in Madison, Wisconsin, for their development of an innovative, collaborative model for training dislocated workers. The training delivery model exemplifies effective collaboration among numerous workforce and economic development agencies, as evidenced by the Showcase Program Award presented to Rebecca Best, dean of Workforce, Economic, and Regional Development at CLC, and Craig Nathan, operations manager...
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February
2010
Innovation is in the American community college DNA, a significant part of its heritage, character, distinction, and leadership for change. A new report released today by the League for Innovation in the Community College adds new insights into why, how, and with what result colleges innovate successfully and lessons they can share. The Nature of Innovation in the Community College reports findings from a study conducted by Terry O'Banion, president emeritus of the League, and supported by MetLife Foundation. The study included 173 innovations at 19 colleges, involving more than 400 community...
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January
2010
Late one Friday afternoon toward the end of last spring term, the blank, off-white walls in the main hallway of Lane Community College's Building 19 in Eugene, Oregon, were transformed into a place of beauty and learning. Through the vision and energy of Lane's printmaking instructor, Susan Lowdermilk, and the support of Lane's Art on Campus Committee, a selection of her past students' finest prints became part of Lane's permanent art collection. The prints went on display not in the art department, but across campus in a wide hallway where students from all disciplines would see and be...
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2010
This guide is a product of the League's Significant Discussions Project, and was created to facilitate discussions between secondary and postsecondary faculty and administrators, and business, industry, and community partners. The Significant Discussions guide is a comprehensive set of tools to assist these partners in their collaborative work to better align curriculum across institutions, thus easing student transitions from high school to community college and university transfer. The guide is based on effective practices in place at nine participating sites and promising practices...
Looking ahead is a necessity. Consider strategies such as strategic planning, thinking outside the box, brainstorming, trend analysis, and scenario building. These are all examples of ways anyone in their day-to-day lives might develop their skills in thinking and planning for the future. At the Institute for the Future at Anne Arundel Community College (IF@AACC), students and the community benefit from a team of faculty members who promote future thinking and creativity, foster innovation, and engage learners in the art of foresight. This is a special opportunity for community college...
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November
2009
The inaugural graduates of South Seattle Community College's Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Hospitality Management program who were awarded their degrees in June 2009 are future hospitality industry leaders. Their 21st century skill set includes knowledge and hands-on experience in marketing, human resources, management, and technical applications in all facets of the hospitality industry. Those transferable skills enable them to work in tourism, hotel operation, restaurant management, catering, cruise ship, and casino operations, or travel—anywhere in the world.
The 90-credit program...
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On the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains, the mild weather in Greeley, Colorado, provides the perfect playground for year-round sports. Aims Community College in Greeley has developed an extensive physical education program to meet the demands of students and residents, offering a wide range of activities and sports from archery to zumba. The newest additions to the offerings are the popular winter sports of ice skating and ice hockey.
In January 2009, Aims began offering ice skating and ice hockey classes at the local municipal ice rink, Greeley Ice Haus. Daniel Doherty, academic dean at...
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September
2009
As part of an ongoing effort to interest American Indian youth in a variety of careers and in pursuing higher education, Leech Lake Tribal College recently collaborated with local schools on the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe reservation to host two exciting summer programs.
The first program, known as the STAR (Successful Transition to and Academic Rigor in postsecondary education) Project, was held June 8-19, and involved a cohort of 14 rising tenth-graders from the Cass Lake-Bena High School. The project, made possible by a grant from the US Office of Indian Education, is a comprehensive and...
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Fall is in the air...crisp mornings, vibrant leaves of red and orange, pumpkin pie and apple cider...and everyone's favorite fall festivals abound. Community colleges take advantage of this beautiful time of year to sponsor festivals in their communities.
Fall festivals are an opportunity for community colleges to generate much-needed funds for groups that could use the boost, especially in these difficult financial times and tight budgets. Many colleges sustain local artists, industries, and causes with the funds raised, enhancing the visibility of the college and the community. Others use...
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A broiling August sun and high humidity fired up a crowd of nearly 150 wellwishers who gathered to celebrate a first in the nation: the launch of a new training partnership involving a Maryland community college, private industry, and the federal government.
The crowd enjoyed shaded seating beneath a yellow and white canopy at the Woodland Job Corps Center in Laurel, Maryland, while listening to speakers describe the groundbreaking initiative involving Anne Arundel Community College, the federal Job Corps site, and the Independent Electrical Contractors Chesapeake chapter. The ceremony ended...
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August
2009
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July
2009
Member Spotlight offers member colleges the opportunity to spotlight a program, an award, or a successful innovation to share with other community colleges. These spotlights are featured in the League's monthly League Connections electronic newsletter.
We send our thanks and recognition to the colleges featured in the 2008-2009 Member Spotlight. Each institution is listed below with a link to the college's Member Spotlight selection.
Seattle Community College
Big Sandy Community and Technical College
Ivy Tech Community College
Cossatot Community College
Kaua'i Community College
Bakersfield...
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The guitar player tunes up as the drummer raps on the snare drum for a sound check. Two young women share a laugh whileeating lunch. A woman blows bubbles as she talks to students. It could be a summer festival and in some respects it is, but Registration Rocks at Volunteer State Community College has one goal: get potential students into the college process early, before the rush.
"We hold it on the day when everyone can start registering for fall classes," said Tim Amyx, director of admissions and college registrar. "It's a fun way to engage new students and potential students, without the...
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