What Excellent Community Colleges Do

In What Excellent Community Colleges Do, Joshua S. Wyner draws on the insights and evidence gained in administering the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. Focusing on four domains of excellence--degree completion, equity, student learning, and labor market success--he describes the policies and practices that have allowed some community colleges to succeed in these areas. By identifying initiatives that align with valued outcomes, Wyner seeks to contribute to the growing body of knowledge about improving student success in community colleges. "Wyner's book is readable, practical, and inspirational. He describes innovations used by the most successful community colleges to raise their completion rates, accelerate remediation for underprepared students, and achieve greater equity and higher achievement at the same time. It is a must-read for all who understand the importance of high-quality community colleges to a brighter American future." -- Alice M. Rivlin, senior fellow, The Brookings Institution "Joshua Wyner reminds us that the community college success agenda needs to be about more than increasing the number of credentials awarded. He shows how, with bold leadership--and enough time--a select group of colleges have transformed themselves in ways that not only increase graduation rates, but improve student learning and success in further education and employment, all while keeping an 'open door' to every student." -- Davis Jenkins, senior research associate, Community College Research Center, Teachers College, Columbia University "Joshua Wyner is a leading advocate for equity and quality of education, particularly in the key arena of our community colleges, which enroll half of higher education students but remain woefully underfunded and underappreciated. Wyner understands that we must find improvements, and he is willing to ask the hard questions about how to get there. He has found compelling answers that will help guide us to better results for our students and for America's social mobility and use of talent." -- Tony Marx, president, The New York Public Library, and former president, Amherst College Joshua S. Wyner is the founder and executive director of The Aspen Institute's College Excellence Program.