Innovations Library

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Accelerated Programmer Training Program: Building an IT Talent Pipeline by Breaking Barriers
Linda Smarzik July 2020
Volume: 15 Issue: 7
Count all 22
In October 2012, Austin Community College District (ACC) was awarded a four-year, $2.1 million TAACCCT grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to assist students with the removal of barriers to degree completion and acquisition of entry-level positions in the field of information technology (IT). With grant funds, the college designed a new online competency-based education (CBE) program—Accelerated Programmer Training (APT).
Tags: Economic Development, Teaching and Learning, Community Relations, Partnerships, Programs and Practices, Student Retention, Innovations
Leveraging Sinclair Community College’s Unmanned Aerial Systems Capabilities as Part of a Natural Disaster Response
Jeffrey A. Miller and Andrew D. Shepherd June 2020
Volume: 15 Issue: 6
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The Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) team at Sinclair Community College is dedicated to creating one of the most comprehensive and pioneering facilities in the nation for the advancement of the UAS industry. Since 2008, Sinclair has been at the forefront of UAS innovation, creating partnerships, developing leading curriculum, and investing significantly to establish a nationally prominent program dedicated to meeting workforce needs.
Tags: Teaching and Learning, Community Relations, Learning Environments, Programs and Disciplines, Innovations
Addressing Food Insecurity on an Urban Campus
Lupe Conchas, Vashi Worley, and Larry D. Johnson, Jr. May 2020
Volume: 15 Issue: 5
Count all 19
Phoenix College (PC), one of ten colleges in the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD), was established in 1920. Located in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona, PC is one of the oldest community colleges in the United States, serves more than 17,000 students annually, and is designated by the Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). The college opened its doors during a period of racial unrest and was one of the only institutions to support a diverse student body at that time.
Tags: Student Services, Access, Equity, Learning Resources, Partnerships, Innovations
Better Together: Enhancing Partnerships in Mississippi
Sheriece L. Robinson April 2020
Volume: 15 Issue: 4
Count all 40
Enhancing partnerships in career and technical education (CTE) is essential to community colleges’ efforts to serve students, businesses, and local communities. These partnerships are critical to designing curriculum; teaching up-to-date content and skills; and staying abreast of technological demands, business trends, and employment expectations. In Mississippi, CTE focuses on developing and implementing research-based instructional programs that meet growing workforce needs and promote economic development (Advance CTE, n.d.).
Tags: Economic Development, Community Relations, Partnerships, Workforce Preparation, Innovations
LadderzUP: A Strategic Public-Public Partnership for Regional Workforce Development
Todd Oldham March 2020
Volume: 15 Issue: 3
Count all 12
Since its founding in 1961, Monroe Community College (MCC), a public institution within the State University of New York (SUNY) system, has earned a reputation as a leader in workforce education in the Upstate New York region.
Tags: Economic Development, Corporate Training, Workforce Preparation, Innovations
Cuyahoga Community College: Help Is Here
Kevin Berg, Courtney Clarke, Kellee Ellis, Brittany Hanek, Kathleen Heinlen, Robert Johnson, Katie Khoury, Kevin Kuntz, David Nardecchia, Michelle Nicopolis, Ann Proudfit, Katie Ramunni, and Michelle Thomas February 2020
Volume: 15 Issue: 2
Count all 17
Community college faculty, staff, and administrators face many challenges as they work to support student success, and the mental health of students ranks high on the list of concerns. In fact, suicide is the second leading cause of death among 10- to 34-year-olds (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019) and the tenth leading cause of death across all age groups in the U.S. (National Institute of Mental Health, 2019). Colleges have a unique opportunity to support student success through targeted efforts to reduce the suicide rate.
Tags: Student Services, Community Relations, Inclusion, Programs and Practices, Innovations
An Unforeseen Transformation: A Personal Account of Educational Opportunities
Maria Gear January 2020
Volume: 15 Issue: 1
Count all 16
Researchers define a first-generation student as the first member of a family to attend college (Chen, 2005; Ishitani, 2006; Redford & Mulvaney Hoyer, 2017). In the U.S., these students are more likely to be African American or Hispanic (Chen, 2005), come from a lower socioeconomic status (Jenkins, Miyazaki, & Janosik, 2009; Redford & Mulvaney Hoyer, 2017), and have a higher rate of attrition at the collegiate level than their counterparts (Chen, 2005; Lohfink & Paulsen, 2005; Nuñez & Cuccaro-Alamin, 1998).
Tags: Student Services, Teaching and Learning, Access, College Readiness, Learning Resources, Student Success, Innovations
FlexFORWARD: The New Way for Adults to Earn a College Degree
Justin Hoehn December 2019
Volume: 14 Issue: 12
Count all 19
Like most community colleges across the U.S., Kirkwood Community College embodies the widely celebrated educational ideal that it’s never too late to get a college education. This ideal is on display every day at 10 campuses spread out over the college’s seven-county service area in eastern Iowa. In fact, the age range for enrolled, degree-seeking students at the college is from 16 to 74 years old, and that range grows even wider when dual enrollment numbers are considered.
Tags: Learning and Organization, Access, Enrollment Management, Student Retention, Innovations
Building a Culture of Equity-Mindedness
Kentina Smith and Lori Perez November 2019
Volume: 14 Issue: 11
Count all 9
Across the U.S., colleges are structuring and implementing strategies, initiatives, and programs to address equity gaps in academic achievement. There is much work to be done, as inequities continue to exist in policies and practices. The good news is that under the right conditions, with the right team members and supportive leadership, it is possible to build a community of equity-minded faculty to work toward more inclusive classrooms.
Tags: Innovations
Student Applied Benchmarking: A Whole College Student Success Effort
Denise Barton and Emily Moore October 2019
Volume: 14 Issue: 10
Count all 27
According to Inc. magazine (Curtain, 2017), the number one skill that high paying employers want in employees is the ability to solve complex problems. At Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh, North Carolina, we are striving to help students develop problem-solving skills with the support of staff and faculty across the college through Student Applied Benchmarking (SAB). Students in this program design solutions to problems with the help of college employees.
Tags: Leadership and Organization, Leadership Development, Leadership Development, Organizational Culture, Policy and Practice, Innovations
Community Colleges Use League Grants to Promote Public Health Career Awareness
From the League for Innovation in the Community College September 2019
Volume: 14 Issue: 9
Count all 26
As the demand for public health professionals continues to increase, the League for Innovation in the Community College (League) is collaborating with the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) to create a community college culture of health. Part of this effort involves increasing community college student awareness of career options in public health fields. In January 2019, the League awarded 23 small grants to help support this career awareness activities during National Public Health Week 2019 and World Health Day 2019.
Tags: Resource Development, Workforce Preparation, Innovations
Moraine Valley Retention Academy Leads to Process Improvements and Increased Student Success
Jodi Marneris August 2019
Volume: 14 Issue: 8
Count all 27
Those at Moraine Valley Community College (MVCC) in Palos Hills, Illinois, believe that the measure of student success is best determined by the students themselves. With that in mind, the college’s Completion Commitment Committee implemented several initiatives, including a Retention Academy, to help students reach their goals.
Tags: Learning and Organization, Classroom Research, Institutional Research, Student Retention, Student Success, Innovations
Enhancing Health Services for Students
Dotti Cordell and Leslie Easton July 2019
Volume: 14 Issue: 7
Count all 20
As much as the faculty, classified professionals, and administration at San Diego City College take pride in the 1,500 classes and 200+ degree and certificate programs offered at the 60-acre urban campus, they also understand that the college’s role in supporting and empowering students goes far beyond the classroom. For instance, thirty-nine percent of college students experience significant mental health issues, yet two-thirds with anxiety or depression do not seek treatment (Active Minds, n.d.).
Tags: Resource Development, Student Services, Diversity, Inclusion, Student Retention, Innovations
Incorporating Employable Soft Skills Into the Introductory Communication Course
Terri Piazza June 2019
Volume: 14 Issue: 6
Count all 61
Two years ago, faculty in the Communication department at Allen Community College were considering ways to make the introductory communication course more practical and applicable for students. After all, most students don’t see themselves standing at the front of a room full of people giving speeches in their careers; however, they do acknowledge the need for effective communication skills. At the same time, employers are pleading for job applicants with soft skills—fundamental professional behaviors.
Tags: Teaching and Learning, Teaching Strategies, Workforce Preparation, Innovations
Aspiring Chefs Get a Taste of Restaurant Life at Norwalk Community College
Madeline K. Barillo May 2019
Volume: 14 Issue: 5
Count all 1016
Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management students at Norwalk Community College (NCC) often make meals for college meetings and VIP guests. Now, they’re dishing them up for paying customers, too. The college recently launched a Café Dining “restaurant” that is open to the public for lunch on Thursdays during the spring semester. The program is designed to give students work experience in all phases of running a restaurant or food-service operation—from setting pricing to preparing entrees to serving as waiters and managers.
Tags: Teaching and Learning, Workforce Preparation, Innovations

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