Save the Date!
CCBA 20th Annual Conference to be Held in Seattle
February 28-March 1, 2020
Congratulations to the state of Wyoming

For their recent approval to offer the baccalaureate degree in two-year colleges!

Congratulations to Florida's Miami-Dade College and Indian River State College for winning the 2019 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence

Congratulations to two of our outstanding institution members, Miami–Dade College and Indian River State College. The $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence is the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance among America’s community colleges. With a singular focus on student success, the prize honors institutions with outstanding achievements in four areas: student learning, certificate and degree completion, employment and earnings, and high-levels of access and success for minority and low-income students.

Both institutions have proven they are committed to offering bachelor programs that address workforce demands and offer students exceptional educational opportunities. Miami Dade College now offers more than ten bachelor’s degrees with multiple specializations while Indian River offers more than 20 bachelor’s degree programs, many entirely online. Tuition rates at both colleges are 40 percent less than Florida’s public universities.



Presidents Divided on Community College Bachelor's Degrees


Community college and university presidents are sharply divided over whether two-year institutions should offer bachelor's degrees. This is among one of the key findings of Inside Higher Ed's 2019 Survey of Community College Presidents, which you can download for free here.

Two-year college presidents want to offer more bachelor's degrees because they believe such programs would help close racial, ethnic and economic gaps in degree attainment. However, four-year college presidents are skeptical of the idea and have fought against proposals that would increase bachelor's degree availability at community colleges. They are concerned about the quality of a bachelor's degree from a community college and see the push as evidence of “mission creep.”

Community college presidents believe they should be allowed to award bachelor's degrees to reach students left behind by traditional four-year institutions. Growing evidence says community college presidents are right, Dr. Mary Alice McCarthy writes. Read Dr. McCarthy's entire article here.

Dr. Mary Alice McCarthy is the founder and director of the Center on Education and Skills, a policy development and research center of New America, a think tank and civic enterprise that seeks new approaches to American politics, prosperity, and purpose in the Digital Age. Dr. McCarthy, along with Dr. Deb Bragg, recently spoke at CCBA’s annual conference framing the community college baccalaureate as an equity imperative.

Exciting New Resource Now Available

The community college baccalaureate is identified as one of the 13 ideas that are transforming the world of community colleges.

"America’s community colleges are experiencing the most creative and substantive period of transformation in their 118-year history. There has never been so much research, so much support from foundations, and so much commitment from national leaders to re-imagine community colleges for today and for the future."

13 Ideas that Are Transforming the Community College World, edited by Terry O’Banion, is the seminal work that captures the major changes faced by community college leaders in this period of transformation. Dr. Deborah L. Floyd and Dr. Michael Skolnik have authored the very comprehensive chapter: “The Community College Baccalaureate Movement: Evolutionary and Revolutionary”. Dr. Floyd recently spoke at CCBA’s annual conference and facilitated one of the most interesting discussions on “Contemporary Issues and Challenges of CCB’s.”

CCBA members receive a 20% discount on the cost of the book, by mentioning the promo code “RLEGEN18.” Learn More Here !

Engage with Bermudian Students 

CCBA is committed to offering our members opportunities for recruitment and engagement with international partners. Education USA Bermuda is gauging interest from U.S. community colleges that wish to engage with students in Bermuda and to develop 2+2 agreements with Bermuda College. Bermuda is served by one higher education institution that only offers two-year programs. If your institution is interested in learning more about the development of a 2+2 agreement with Bermudian students and general recruitment opportunities, please contact Peter Baker at pbaker@educationusa.org