Synopses & Reviews
In
What Excellent Community Colleges Do, Joshua S. Wyner draws on the insights and evidence gained in administering the inaugural Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.
This book identifies four domains of excellence—degree completion, equity, student learning, and labor market success—and describes in rich detail the policies and practices that have allowed some community colleges to succeed in these domains.
By starting with a holistic definition of excellence, measuring success against that definition, and then identifying practices and policies that align with high levels of student success, the author seeks to contribute to the growing body of knowledge about improving student success in community colleges.
Review
“Wyner’s book is readable, practical, and inspirational. He describes innovations used by the most successful community colleges to raise their completion rates, accelerate remediation for underprepared students, and achieve greater equity and higher achievement at the same time. It is a must-read for all who understand the importance of high-quality community colleges to a brighter American future.” —
Alice M. Rivlin, senior fellow, The Brookings Institution
Review
“Joshua Wyner reminds us that the community college success agenda needs to be about more than increasing the number of credentials awarded. He shows how, with bold leadership—and enough time—a select group of colleges have transformed themselves in ways that not only increase graduation rates, but improve student learning and success in further education and employment, all while keeping an ‘open door’ to every student.” —
Davis Jenkins, senior research associate, Community College Research Center, Teachers College, Columbia University
Review
“Joshua Wyner is a leading advocate for equity and quality of education, particularly in the key arena of our community colleges, which enroll half of higher education students but remain woefully underfunded and underappreciated. Wyner understands that we must find improvements, and he is willing to ask the hard questions about how to get there. He has found compelling answers that will help guide us to better results for our students and for America’s social mobility and use of talent.” — Tony Marx, president, The New York Public Library, and former president, Amherst College
Synopsis
This book develops a practical framework for fostering student success in community colleges. Wyner explores ways these colleges can improve degree completion, student outcomes, job market attainment, and other areas of concern.
About the Author
Joshua S. Wyner is the founder and executive director of The Aspen Institute's College Excellence Program.
Table of Contents
CONTENTS ix Foreword
INTRODUCTION
1 Community Colleges
A Call to Progress
ONE
11 Completion and Transfer
Creating Clarity in a Culture of Choice
TWO
41 Equity and Developmental Education
Confronting the Tension Between Access and Success
THREE
65 Learning Outcomes
Engaging Faculty in Change They Understand
FOUR
95 Labor Markets
Tying Learning and Credentials to Jobs and Community
FIVE
117 The Community College President
Driving to Excellence in a Fast-Changing Environment
CONCLUSION
141 The Path Ahead
Urgency and Uncertainty
APPENDIX A
147 Seven Colleges Featured in This Book
APPENDIX B
155 Aspen Prize Data
159 Notes
175 Acknowledgments
177 About the Author
179 Index