NCII Partner for national leadership on community colleges
The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) serves as the national leadership organization for the nation’s community colleges, emphasizing support in the areas of pathways reforms, redesigned developmental education (in accord with the Core Principles), new approaches to postsecondary credentialing, and K–12/community college partnerships.
AACC develops the coaching model and curriculum for assisting colleges with the design and implementation of guided pathways and shares materials broadly.
The organization also fields requests from college CEOs for coaching, content experts, and peer-to-peer support, and it provides direct services for coaching on pathways reforms and executive coaching.
AACC hosts training events, including topical institutes and leadership development events, and it conducts an annual national convention for the community college field, which is heavily attended by college and system CEOs.
NCII Partner for institutional excellence and leadership development
The Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program aims to advance higher education practices, policies, and leadership that significantly improve student outcomes. Through the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the AACC Pathways Institutes, and other initiatives, the College Excellence Program works with NCII to improve colleges’ understanding and capacity to teach and graduate students, especially the growing population of low-income and minority students on American campuses.
NCII Partner for student engagement and research
The Center for Community College Student Engagement, a research and service initiative in the College of Education’s Department of Educational Administration at The University of Texas at Austin, is an umbrella organization for survey research (Community College Survey of Student Engagement [CCSSE], the flagship survey; Community College Faculty Survey of Student Engagement [CCFSSE]; and Survey of Entering Student Engagement [SENSE]), focus group work, and related services for community and technical colleges interested in improving educational quality through strengthened student engagement and student success. Since 2002, the Center has surveyed nearly 3 million community college students cumulatively representing a total credit enrollment of more than 6.5 million students from more than 900 community colleges nationwide. The Center is best known for its work on student engagement in community colleges and capturing the voices of community college students, faculty, and staff to supplement quantitative data in improvement efforts.
NCII Partner for scholarly and applied research
The Community College Research Center (CCRC) is the leading independent authority on two-year colleges in the United States. CCRC conducts research on the issues affecting community colleges and works with colleges and states to improve student success and improve institutional performance. CCRC strategically assesses the problems and performance of community colleges to contribute to the development of practice and policy that expand access to higher education and promote success for all students.
NCII Partner for state networks and policy
Jobs for the Future (JFF) is a national nonprofit that builds educational and economic opportunity for underserved populations in the United States. JFF develops innovative programs and public policies that increase college readiness and career success and build a more highly skilled, competitive workforce. With more than 30 years of experience, JFF is a recognized national leader in bridging education and work to increase economic mobility and strengthen our economy.
NCII Partner for stakeholder engagement
Public Agenda is a nonprofit organization that helps diverse leaders and citizens navigate complex, divisive issues. Through nonpartisan research and engagement, it provides people with the insights and support they need to arrive at workable solutions on critical issues, regardless of their differences. Since 1975, Public Agenda has helped foster progress on higher education affordability, achievement gaps, community college completion, use of technology and innovation, and other higher education issues.
NCII Partner for practitioner-driven research and evaluation
The RP Group strengthens the abilities of community colleges to gather, analyze, and act on information to strengthen student success. The research and evaluation division of the RP Group, formerly known as the Center for Student Success, utilizes the skills and unique perspectives of college researchers, faculty, and administrators. The success of RP Group projects is rooted in their design. Each project is led by a unique team of community college staff, faculty, and administrators who have proven research skills and a direct understanding of the subject at hand. Projects culminate in audience-specific products that stimulate discussion, improve outcomes, and strengthen student success.