Community College Leadership Program Well-Represented in New National Commission - September 8, 2011

Dr. Kay McClenney

Dr. Kay McClenney, executive director of the College of Education’s Center for Community College Student Engagement, has been named co-chair of the newly created 21st Century Commission on the Future of Community Colleges.

She’ll be sharing leadership duties with San Diego Community College District Chancellor Emeritus Augustine Gallego and Cuyahoga Community College President Jerry Sue Thornton. Dr. John Roueche, director of the College of Education’s Community College Leadership Program, also has been selected to serve on the commission.

The American Association of Community Colleges, of which College of Education alumnus Dr. Walter Bumphus is president, created the commission to examine the challenges, opportunities and changing mission of community colleges. Emphasis will be placed on how best to move forward at a time when shrinking budgets coexist alongside a rapidly growing and very diverse community college student population.

The commission is made up of 36 individuals from varying backgrounds and constituencies and who hold different views on issues of community college accountability and student success. Most of the 36 members also are distinguished alumni of the College of Education’s Community College Leadership Program.

The first commission meeting was held in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 12. The group will be meeting both virtually and in person over the next 10 months to discuss how to address President Obama’s challenge for community colleges to educate an additional five million students – bestowing licenses, degrees and other credentials that will improve job prospects – by 2020.

This is only the third time in the past 110 years that national community college leaders have convened for a thorough reexamination of the overarching purpose and mission of community colleges, apropos of current economic realities and rapidly evolving student needs.

—Kay Randall, University Communications, 512-232-3910