Granting ourselves grace
When I first stood in a community college classroom as an English adjunct in rural North Carolina, I never planned to be a college president. Yet two and a half decades later, I reflect on…
Leadership
A reflection on resiliency
On July 30, 2003, the news spread that Pillowtex had shuttered operations at textile plants in the U.S. and Canada, leaving nearly 4,000 residents of North Carolina’s Cabarrus and Rowan counties suddenly unemployed and well…
The next decade of distance learning will be awesome!
Editor’s note: The Instructional Technology Council (ITC) concludes its series of articles focusing on the anticipated impact of distance learning over the next 10 years. For the past six months, the ITC has provided a…
Reaching the next rung
For minority populations striving to reach new heights of academia, it is often the smaller slights that equate to feelings of marginalization. As just one example, Monique Umphrey recalls a superior handing an initiative she…
Building interest in criminal justice
The critical lens under which law enforcement has been viewed during the past few years since the George Floyd murder and resulting racial reckoning has contributed to lower enrollments in criminal justice programs at some…
Lonely but not alone
After a small stint in municipal government, I began my career as a student affairs practitioner in 1995. I believe that every position I have held, every degree I have earned and every mentor I…
Newsmakers
Interim CEOs Beatriz Chaidez is now interim chancellor of the San José – Evergreen Community College District (SJECCD) in California. She most recently served as vice chancellor of human resources for SJECCD. “Dr. Chaidez has…
In the interim
When a community college president leaves and the college doesn’t have enough time to conduct a full search for a replacement, they turn to an interim president. This is ideally someone who’s experienced in the…
Credit for work in community college apprenticeships
The opportunity: elevate the role of community colleges in creating a more equitable and inclusive workforce. The problem: associate of applied science (AAS) degrees in tech and business often don’t lead directly to employment, as…
Course scheduling through an equity lens
During the Covid pandemic, Montgomery College in Maryland saw something unprecedented. Students had always been able to take classes at any of the college’s three campuses. To avoid long commutes through one of the nation’s…