Urban community colleges--and the cities they serve--are undergoing rapid, multidimensional changes in response to new conditions and demands. The challenge for all community colleges, regardless of size or location, is to reinvent themselves so they can better meet the particular needs of their respective communities. This national higher-education mandate is vital to democracy itself, especially given the multiracial nature of metropolitan areas, where challenges and opportunities have always been most pronounced. This volume looks at how urban colleges are vigorously exploring new strategies for sustainability and success. Some of the most prominent practitioners examine every major aspect of the change-engagement process, including the role of governing boards, workforce development, community partnerships, and redesign of outdated business and finance models. This is the 162nd volume of this Jossey-Bass higher education quarterly report series, an essential guide for presidents, vice presidents, deans, and other leaders in today's open-door institutions, this quarterly provides expert guidance in meeting the challenges of their distinctive and expanding educational mission.

Drawing from site visits to 10 community colleges located in New York (New York), Miami (Florida), Cleveland (Ohio), Jacksonville (Florida), Kansas City (Missouri), Dallas (Texas), Los Angeles (California), Denver (Colorado), Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania), and Detroit (Michigan), this report traces the efforts of inner-city community colleges to provide education, training, and urban survival skills to new immigrants, high school dropouts, homeless, and socially and economically disadvantaged, as well as to large numbers of traditional students. Part 1 of the report presents a position statement by the Commission on Urban Community Colleges of the American Association of Community and Junior Colleges concerning the role of urban community colleges. Part 2 offers introductory information on the purpose of the study and on the campuses that were visited. Part 3 offers brief descriptions of each college's efforts to establish partnerships with the community, build articulated and cooperative programs with schools and universities, and establish partnerships with business and industry. This section also highlights the colleges' role in the education and training of nontraditional students, in providing community services, and in serving as a home for community-based organizations and activities. In part 4, conclusions stress that: (1) the colleges' commitment to the central city in the face of extremely challenging odds appears to be firm; (2) urban community college leaders are firm in their belief that quality education is not and should not be sacrificed in the name of programs related to meeting social needs; (3) enrollment declines of the early and mid-1980's appear to have been reversed; (4) campus leadership continues to struggle with the issues of social change and higher education; and (5) there appears to be no national consensus on the multiple missions and roles of the central city campus and its special programs that reach out to the community. In conclusion, part 5 offers seven recommendations. (JMC)

Urban community colleges--and the cities they serve--are undergoing rapid, multidimensional changes in response to new conditions and demands. The challenge for all community colleges, regardless of size or location, is to reinvent themselves so they can better meet the particular needs of their respective communities. This national higher-education mandate is vital to democracy itself, especially given the multiracial nature of metropolitan areas, where challenges and opportunities have always been most pronounced. This volume looks at how urban colleges are vigorously exploring new strategies for sustainability and success. Some of the most prominent practitioners examine every major aspect of the change-engagement process, including the role of governing boards, workforce development, community partnerships, and redesign of outdated business and finance models. This is the 162nd volume of this Jossey-Bass higher education quarterly report series, an essential guide for presidents, vice presidents, deans, and other leaders in today's open-door institutions, this quarterly provides expert guidance in meeting the challenges of their distinctive and expanding educational mission.

Monograph analyzing the impact of universitys and higher education institutions on community relations in urban area communitys of the USA - covers problems in meeting urban educational needs through access to enrolment in universities, in community colleges, and in new innovation-oriented institutions, and includes the role of universities in urban development, etc. Bibliography pp. 197 to 199, references and statistical tables.