The concept of critical thinking has found its way into course descriptions, textbook titles, and even college mission statements. Yet far from being satisfied with these successes, scholars in the field believe that much unfinished business remains: critical thinking has not found its way into many classrooms.
This volumepresents blueprints to professional development plans that focus on a solution to the problem with best practices from colleges that have already begun to implement such plans, and methods for assessing programs that emerge from them. Finally, the...

The studies presented in this volume of New Directions for Community Colleges aim to foster a better understanding of the ways in which community colleges provide Latino students with educational access and opportunity.

State and federal policy has increasingly looked to the community college to educate Latinos--the largest minority group in the United States--and other students traditionally underrepresented in higher education. Indeed, Latinos enroll in community colleges at rates higher than those for any other racial or ethnic group. Although research has been done to study the...

This volume provides the reader with an increased understanding of benchmarking in the community college sector. It should be of interest to community college faculty and staff engaged in continuous assessment and institutional improvement efforts, as well as university faculty and graduate students studying community college policy and practice.

While giving an overview of benchmarking and illustrating its growth within community college assessment, this volume provides four examples of national benchmarking initiatives designed specifically for two-year institutions; describes how the...