This case study provides an in depth view of the experiences of African American male students within the California Community College (CCC) system at one Northern California site. Each young man interviewed is or was an active participant in an on campus support program specifically for African American males. The participants' experiences as African American male students enrolled in a California community college, lead to a greater understanding of African American males in the California Community College system, as a demographic. Findings suggest the importance of appreciating the stories and lived experiences of the subjects prior to joining the on campus group for later success at the Community College level. Findings suggest that this all-male, student support group created a means of increasing student persistence, retention and transfer rates. Moreover, findings show how African American male students' academic engagement, self-perception and interpersonal relations are positively impacted by their participation in the group. Thus, the practices of this all-male support group should be replicated across the California Community Colleges. The all-male support group is demonstrative of an effective means that the California Community Colleges could employ to increase the persistence, retention, completion and transfer rates of their male students, in general and for African American students specifically. Further, the findings suggest the utility of the all-male support group on campus as positively affecting the educational and personal circumstance outcomes of African American male students. Future research could be employed to better uncover the positive components that undergird the effectiveness of the all-male support group on campus for African American male students. In summary, the participants appear to have greater perceived engagement with the Community College experience through the all male support group.

This is the first comprehensive and contemporary history of the largest and most diverse public system of higher education in the United States. Serving over 2 million students annually—approximately one-quarter of the nation's community college undergraduates—California’s 116 community colleges play an indispensable role in career and transfer education in North America and have maintained an outsized influence on the evolution of postsecondary education nationally. A College for All Californians chronicles the sector's emergence from K–12 institutions, its evolving mission and growth following World War II and the G.I. Bill For Education, the expansion of its ever-broadening mission, and its essential role in the 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education. Chapters cover California’s junior and community colleges’ development, mission, governance, faculty, finances, athletics, student support services, and more. It also examines the successes and ongoing political, financial, and educational challenges confronting this uniquely American educational experiment. Book Features: Encapsulates the evolution and contemporary status of our nation’s largest and most diverse undergraduate education system.Examines how the colleges were influenced by the political, economic, and social issues of the day.Includes new historical information affecting postsecondary education in California.Analyzes some of the most important current and emerging issues that will continue to influence California’s community colleges. Contributors: Carlos O. Turner Cortez, Michelle Fischthal, Jonathan Lightman, Jessica Luedtke, David W. Morse, Joe Newmyer, Mark Robinson, Leslie M. Salas.

Maximize your college experience. Follow the track that costs less and pays more. Whether you're looking to transfer to a four-year school or you want an edge in the job market, community college could be your key to success. The question is: How can you make community college work to your advantage? The Community College Advantage: Your Guide to a Low-Cost, High-Reward College Experience is the first community college strategy guide focused on maximizing your college experience. With helpful tips and worksheets, you'll be prepared from the minute you set foot on campus. Optimize your time in community college. Uncover secrets to making the most of your classes, teachers, and peers. Transfer to your dream school. Follow a step-by-step guide to the transfer process and obtain access to the best colleges in the nation. Gain life skills that prepare you for the real world. Apply these tips and techniques to your life after college and see all your hard work pay off.

Community College: Is It Right for You? helps you answer that question realistically. A practical alternative to more expensive four-year colleges and universities, community colleges are hot! At community colleges, you can get fast-track training for high-demand jobs; earn a certificate or an associate's degree; build your skills, confidence, and college credits before transferring to a four-year institution; enhance your abilities for your current job; or re-tool for a career change. Over 11 million students of all ages and backgrounds enroll in community colleges every year. Should you join them? This one-of-a-kind guide helps you decide. It describes the community college experience and covers the benefits of attending a community college, how to apply, how to afford it (including the scoop on financial aid), where a community college education can lead, and more. Whether you're considering community college as a springboard to further education, a launchpad for a promising career, or a way to enhance your skills for today's competitive job market, you'll learn what to expect and what to do if you decide community college is right for you. Packed with practical information, this book includes: * Snapshots—Profiles of and interviews with community college students * Real-Life, Expert Advice—Insights and tips from community college students, faculty, and staff * Fast Facts—Surprising tidbits of information about community colleges * Reality Checks—Helpful questions to ask as you consider your options Community College: Is It Right for You? could be one of the most helpful educational books you'll ever read!

Praise for The American Community College "Since 1982, The American Community College by Cohen and Brawer has been the authoritative book on community colleges. Anyone who wants to understand these complex and dynamic institutions--how they are evolving, the contributions they make, the challenges they face, the students they serve, and the faculty and leaders who deliver the services and the curricula--will find The American Community College both essential reading and an important reference book." --George R. Boggs, president and CEO, American Association of Community Colleges "I have been a community college president for over forty-one years and a graduate professor for three decades. This book has been an inspiration to generations of students, faculty members, and administrators. It has become the classic of the field because it has great 'take-home' value to us all." --Joseph N. Hankin, president, Westchester Community College "In this latest edition of The American Community College, the authors continue to manifest their unique, highly knowledgeable perspective about the community college. This book is must-reading for all who desire to understand one of the most important educational institutions in the twenty-first century." --Barbara K. Townsend, professor and director, Center for Community College Research, College of Education, University of Missouri-Columbia "Cohen and Brawer's classic work is the touchstone for a comprehensive overview of the American community college. This is a seminal book for graduate students as well as seasoned professionals for understanding this uniquely American institution." --Charles R. Dassance, president, Central Florida Community College

Currently, U.S. community colleges serve nearly half of all students of color in higher education who, for a multitude of reasons, do not continue their education by transferring to a university. For those students who do transfer, often the responsibility for the application process, retention, graduation, and overall success is placed on them rather than their respective institutions. This book aims to provide direction toward the development and maintenance of a transfer receptive culture, which is defined as an institutional commitment by a university to support transfer students of color. A transfer receptive culture explicitly acknowledges the roles of race and racism in the vertical transfer process from a community college to a university and unapologetically centers transfer as a form of equity in the higher education pipeline. The framework is guided by critical race theory in education, which acknowledges the role of white supremacy and its contemporary and historical role in shaping institutions of higher learning.