‘Career Ready’ Out of High School? Why the Nation Needs to Let Go of That Myth by <b> Anthony P. Carnevale </b>

This community college issue stresses the importance of encouraging students to pursue a higher education degree. For many students, the access and relative affordability of a two-year school rather than a four-year school could be the means to dispel the myth that a high school diploma makes them “career ready.”

Outgunned, in the Crosshairs

Outgunned – describes being overrun, defeated and demoralized by a powerful adversary. In the Crosshairs – is to be vulnerable and in danger, trapped like a mouse in a trap. Under the gun – it’s an expression that means a deadline has been reached and something must be done.

Big Businesses Create App-etizing Programs for Hispanic Students by <b> Mary Ann Cooper </b>

For many Hispanics community colleges are the first step in the higher education journey, but the road to a college degree begins long before high school graduation. Although Hispanic college enrollment has been growing over the past decade, Latinos still earn less than 9 percent of bachelor’s degrees among all graduating college students. How can more Hispanic students be funneled into the higher education pipeline, starting with community college? Three high profile corporations have created very different programs to change the minds and hearts of young Hispanics – some as young as middle school student, as well as high school students – and create a passion for pursuing a college education. Here are the stories of what these programs have to offer.

There’s No Place Like Home by <b> Robert Vela </b>

A look at how san antonio college, one of the oldest public two-year institutions in texas, is creating a welcoming “home” for its nearly 20,000 students

Dismantling the Great Math Barrier A College-wide Approach by <b> Ric Neal Baser </b>

There was a time when more than 70 percent of Northwest Vista College (NVC) students were unable to graduate because they could not complete their college math requirement. Until a community college student is successful in completing the math core requirement they cannot satisfy the college core requirements needed to graduate with an associate degree.

Epcc: a Model of Success for Increasing Educational Attainment