A New Community College Concept Paper
Executive Summary
In the spring of 2008, Chancellor Matthew Goldstein initiated a process for
developing a model for a new CUNY community college. Driving this effort was the
projected growth in enrollment at CUNY’s community colleges and concern to address
the persistent challenges of improving retention and graduation rates and preparing
students for further study or employment.
A Planning Team was organized to serve as a coordinating entity, responsible for
consulting with the larger CUNY community and education professionals across the
nation and reviewing relevant research. A Steering Committee of Central Office
administrators and community college leaders oversaw the planning process. In addition,
a national Advisory Board provided important feedback on the draft concept paper.
This concept paper, which wraps up the exploratory phase of planning, provides a
set of key ideas and practices to facilitate achievement of the Chancellor’s goals. While
some of the proposed ideas denote major departures from traditional approaches, others
come from innovative practices at CUNY’s six community colleges and from suggestions
for changes in policy that prevent community college educators from doing their best
work. Some of the defining features of the new community college include: the
overarching theme of creating and sustaining a thriving New York City; a significant pre-
college component; full-time enrollment, at least during the first year; a merging of
remediation/credit coursework; a limited number of programs of study, with well-defined
pathways to degree, transfer and/or employment; and an Office of Partnerships to
develop and manage connections that will support internships and employment
opportunities.
Pre-College Programs, Admission, Assessment and the Summer
Program
Because many challenges faced by CUNY community college educators begin in
the K-12 system, and are exacerbated by the disconnect between secondary and
postsecondary