Mining for opportunities
Appalachian communities from Alabama to New York have been hit hard by job losses over the last decade as the nation has become less reliant on coal — and community colleges in these areas are…
Technology
The influence of instructional designers
For many community colleges, instructional design and online faculty support consist of a small team of individuals who wear many hats. These individuals often have different titles from organization to organization, such as learning content…
A pioneer in liquid-hydrogen flight
Mark Haberbusch has always been a dreamer. And his biggest dream is finally taking flight. Nearly three decades ago, the Case Western Reserve University graduate, who studied fluid and thermal engineering science and designed high-altitude…
It’s not all async or swim with online courses
While everyone loves the flexibility and independence of online courses, sometimes a sense of isolation can settle in for both instructors and students. Most communication in online courses is text-based and can be a bit…
A more intentional approach to equity in STEM
Eboni Zamani-Gallaher knows that community college STEM educators are working hard to recruit students and more broadly to address gaps in achievement and earnings faced by women and people of color. In her keynote speech…
One step forward, three steps back
Community colleges continue to adapt in the post-Covid era. Uncertainty remains as to whether we will have to close down again or not. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are potential…
‘Carpe diem’ for community colleges on semiconductor workforce development front
STEM educators and industry partners are poised to benefit from the CHIPS and Science Act that will funnel $280 billion into the semiconductor industry while a new bill seeks to direct $1.4 billion to community…
‘We’ll never have more money than we do today’
The chief information officer of a university, who was serving on a panel about the future of information technology in higher education, made this prophetic, frightening and probably accurate statement about funding: “We’ll never have…
Snapshots
A few photos from last week’s Advanced Technological Education (ATE) Principal Investigator’s Conference in Washington, D.C. The annual event is managed by the American Association of Community Colleges with support from the National Science Foundation….
Community college: a place for students of all backgrounds and experiences
One person worked in a grocery store; another waited on tables. A third didn’t know what to do after high school. And then there was the high-achieving high school sophomore. For all four, a turning…