Community College of Denver and Conclusion

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:

1. Capitalize on a "trigger event, an event that releases energy and creates opportunity" (p. 227).
2. "Test" the faculty to determine institutional values and practices as they relate to teaching and learning (231).
3. Mobilize the various innovations in the college to support and guide the development of a learning college (p. 233).
4. Identify the handful of people who will be change leaders (p. 235).
5. Create a vision for the institution (p. 236).
6. Involve all stakeholders, including administrators, faculty, support staff, trustees, community members, and students (p. 237).
7. Appoint a project manager.
8. Reallocate funds (since new funds probably cannot be found) to support the project (p. 239).
9. Encourage communicaton (p. 24).
10. 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!