Community College NCA Call for Panel: Privileged Bridges: Communication Pathways to Community College Student Success (Access, Quality, Affordability and Learning)

[Kirt Shineman]

Dear NCA Community College Section:

I am looking to form a panel on Community College Communication Pathways for Student Success (Access, Quality, Affordability and Learning). Many community college communication departments offer a variety of bridges for students to access their college from high school, and then their college to universities. For example at my college we hosted a high school forensics tournament. Many high school students who were not aware of the community college found it accessible through this bridge. We then bridged our forensics team with the two local universities to ease the transfer. If a student wasn't in forensics the student would miss the expressway to scholarships and the one-on-one mentoring. There are many others such pathways to student success; this is only one "privileged bridge" of access.

This panel could discuss these questions: What channels are we using for access to increase affordability and learning? What channels are we missing? What channels could improve our reach to students? What bridges are they looking for; what map is their guide? How privileged are those plans? Are we reaching the students with certificates, clubs, awards, adult learning, mentoring, and the like? How are those exclusive rather than inclusive? How do those add to more economic determinism, or insider information or favoring a fortunate few?

Let me know if you are interested in this panel.

I would title it: Privileged Bridges: Communication Pathways to Community College Student Success (Access, Quality, Affordability and Learning)

Kirt Shineman

Glendale Community College