I think the chapter on the Community College of Denver was the one I was waiting for, not because it's a college in my hometown but because the transition to a learning college came about largely from a collaboration between leadership and the faculty! This collaboration has led to a pay-for-performance evaluation model adopted by the State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education. Additional key changes at CCD include:
- Identification of first-semester at-risk students on faculty rosters
- An "early alert" process to increase retention
- Data collection on student outcomes
- Accountability reporting
In the concluding chapter, O'Banion makes a dire prediciton that "unhealthy" institutions unwilling to do the work of transforming to a learning college will be relegated to the "rubbish heap of history" (p. 225). In Colorado, at least, I am unaware of any community colleges that have closed their doors since O'Banion's book was written. Nevertheless, he emphasizes the following process to ensure survival:
- Capitalize on a "trigger event, an event that releases energy and creates opportunity" (p. 227).
- "Test" the faculty to determine institutional values and practices as they relate to teaching and learning (231).
- Mobilize the various innovations in the college to support and guide the development of a learning college (p. 233).
- Identify the handful of people who will be change leaders (p. 235).
- Create a vision for the institution (p. 236).
- Involve all stakeholders, including administrators, faculty, support staff, trustees, community members, and students (p. 237).
- Appoint a project manager.
- Reallocate funds (since new funds probably cannot be found) to support the project (p. 239).
- Encourage communicaton (p. 24).
- Employ outside consultants as needed (p. 241).
Not being a college administrator, I can only guess that O'Banion's advice is sound. Most of the colleges in the book seem to have followed this model, especially the step about creating a vision. Schools where the faculty and students were heavily involved in the process stood out for me, as I can relate to both.
O'Banion's book is quite dated, and I'd like to know more about how community colleges have adapted in the last decade to distance education, a sagging economy, and state budget contrainsts. I am most familiar with Southwest Colorado Community College, and from an outsider's perspective, it appears well-positioned for the future. With enrollment up 47 percent last fall, according the Durango Herald, I'd say that it is an example of a college responding quickly to the demands of the workforce. I hope in the future to have first-hand experience as an instructor to see a learning college at work!