Seamless Alignment and Integrated Learning Support (SAILS) Launches Statewide in Tennessee
On Wednesday, May 1, the state of Tennessee launched the statewide SAILS project. This important initiative by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission brings together all appropriate parties from both higher education (TBR) and K-12 (TN DOE) in order to improve math education throughout the state's high schools and colleges. The project's timeline is ambitious, impacting 7,500 students in the first year, 15,000 students in the second year, and over 30,000 students in the third year.
SAILS embeds TBR's Learning Support Math (developmental math) in the high school bridge math course, giving students across the state the opportunity to gain a head start on their college career. This turns the senior year math class into a meaningful experience while eliminating the high-stakes testing cycle that so many students get caught up in. Also, by introducing a model of blended learning and providing individual assistance to the struggling student, SAILS promises to change the way that high school math is taught, giving at-risk students the hope of finally learning math through a new approach. The project has been piloted in 2012-13, with 4 community colleges working with 20 high schools and impacting over 600 students throughout the state. The results have been impressive to say the least. For example, at Chattanooga State over 80% of the students in the pilot will enter college ready to take a college level math course.
What does this mean in the long run? Once implemented statewide, instead of 75% of the students testing into developmental math and needing remediation, over 75% of the students in Tennessee will enter college ready to take a college math class. The need for remediation in the state's colleges will be cut in half, which will have a significant impact on retention and graduation rates.
Read more about the SAILS program below:
"We hope that you enjoyed the 2013 Community College Futures Assembly. In order to continue to be Forces for Good, we have provided the power point presentations of the main sessions. We hope you enjoy:"
- Thomas Bailey
- Leslie Crutchfield
- Cleveland State Community College
- Jackson State Community College
- Pasadena City College
The 2013 Bellwether Winners have been announced!!
After a competitive field of exemplary and innovative programs, the 2013 Community College Futures Assembly is proud to announce this years Bellwether winning institutions:
Instructional Programs & Services:
- Elgin Community College (Elgin, Illinois) - "One school can do so little; together we can do so much."
Planning Governance and Finance:
- Piedmont Technical College (Greenwood, South Carolina) - “LEAN in Higher Education: How it Continues to Change Our Culture.”
Workforce Development:
- Chattanooga State Community College (Chattanooga, Tennessee) - “The Wacker Institute: Diplomas with Job Offers!”
Congratulations to 2013 Bellwether award winners. We are excited and now you can see how how excited they are too . Check out what a Bellwether winning program does to celebrate their success: http://youtu.be/wfVuenmdEfM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JANUARY 29, 2013 FUTURES
Becoming a FORCE FOR GOOD!
2013 Keynote Leslie Crutchfield
Tracing back through the history of time, Community Colleges have always been a source of community support. Through economic downturns and turbulent political times, 
community colleges have been hallmark institutions that train regional workers, educate America’s youth, and offer programs that service the community needs. As a result, America’s Community Colleges have and continue to be, Forces for Good. At the 2013 Community College Futures Assembly, our theme of Forces for Good looks to recognize, foster, and replicate successful community college programs that are currently being a force for good in their respective communities. To assist us in becoming effective Forces for Good, the 2013 Community College Futures Assembly is fortunate to have as its keynote speaker Leslie R. Crutchfield, the author of the critically-acclaimed book, Forces for Good: The Six Practices of High-Impact Nonprofits (Wiley 2008). Read more...
Noah Brown - Saturday, January, 26th
President and CEO of the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT)
From his unique vantage point as President and CEO of the Association of Community College Trustees, J. Noah Brown writes about the intersection between community colleges and America’s need to regain economic momentum and its position as first in the world with respect to college attainment. Read more...
The 2013 Community College Futures Assembly is now online. Please check out the exciting events of this year’s Futures Assembly at:
2013 Community College Futures Assembly Program
Institute of Higher Education Research Reports
The Community College Futures Assembly and the Institute of Higher Education would like to offer you the opportunity to review our research report series addressing important educational issues and opportunities:
Read about J. Noah Brown's, President and CEO of the Association of Community College Trustees, acceptance of the 2013 Bellwether Book Award: http://www.acct.org/news/j-noah-brown-receives-bellwether-book-award
Attend the next Bellwether College Consortium (BCC) at the 2013 American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Annual Convention on Saturday, April 19th from 2-4:00pm at the San Francisco Hilton immediately prior to the AACC opening session.
Announcing 2013 BELLWETHER FINALISTS!
The Community College Futures Assembly has the following programs as 2013 Bellwether Finalist programs:
Instructional Programs & Services
Programs or activities that have been designed and successfully implemented to foster or support teaching and learning in the community college.
Elgin Community College – Elgin, IL
One School Can Do So Little; Together We Can Do So Much
El Paso Community College – El Paso, TX
Math Emporium Redesign: Using the Force of High-Technology for the Good of High-Touch Teaching and Learning
Monroe Community College – Rochester, NY
The Civility Project: Enough is Enough – An Anti-Violence Campaign at Monroe Community College (MCC)
NHTI, Concord's Community College – Concord, NH
Communicating Mindfully: Helping Others Help Themselves
Queensborough Community College of the City University of New York-Bayside, NY
The Freshman Academy Assessment Protocol
SC Technical College System – Columbia, SC
SCTCS's Teaching and Learning with Technology Conference: Planning and Hosting a National-Caliber Technology Conference
South Texas College – McAllen, TX
Dual Enrollment Medical Science Academy
Tarrant County College, South Campus – Ft. Worth, TX
Innovations in Bioscience Courses to Improve Student Success without Sacrificing Rigor
Virginia's Community Colleges – Richmond, VA
Mobilizing Virginia’s 23 Community Colleges for Student Success through Statewide Redesign of Developmental Mathematics: Process, Implementation, and Early Results
Volunteer State Community College – Gallatin, TN
Creating A STEM Pipeline: A Community & College Event
Planning, Governance & Finance
Programs or activities that have been designed and successfully implemented to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the community college.
Carl Sandburg College – Galesburg, IL
Leveraging the Cloud for Student Success and Institutional Effectiveness
Columbia State Community College – Clifton, TN
Mission Review - A Model for Aligning Mission, Funding, and Budget
Gulf Coast State College – Panama City, FL
Leading Transformative Partnerships at the Confluence of Community Engagement, Economic Development and Advanced Technology
Highline Community College – Des Moines, WA
Community College Alumni: Becoming Forces for Good
Piedmont Technical College – Greenwood, SC
Lean in Higher Education: How it continues to Change Our Culture
Quinsigamond Community College – Worchester, MA
Transforming Opportunity through Partnerships: Entrepreneurially Creating a New Campus
Scottsdale Community College – Scottsdale, AZ
Leadership through Organizational Performance
State Fair Community College – Sedalia, MO
Action Analytics as Forces for Progress: Strategic Planning, Governance and Sound Fiscal Management
The Community College of Baltimore County – Baltimore, MD
Strategic Alliances to Transcend Barriers and Manage Resources: The Freshman Transition Program
West Kentucky Community & Technical College – Paducah, KY
Top Strategies for Cultural Transformation from a Top 5 College
Workforce Development
Programs or activities that have been designed and successfully implemented to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the community college.
Alamo Colleges – San Antonio, TX
Alamo Colleges - Dual Credit Career Academies – An Industry-Driven Workforce and Economic Development Partnership Helping Fix the School-To-Careers Pipeline
Arkansas Association of Two-Year Colleges – Little Rock, AK
Quantifying Workforce Development Outcomes
Calhoun Community College – Tanner, AL
Dual Enrollment EMT Program: A Solution to the Healthcare Needs of the Graying American Population
Central Community College-Columbus, NE
Project SHINE: Cultivating Innovators and Big Thinkers
Chattanooga State Community College – Chattanooga, TN
The Wacker Institute: Diplomas with Job Offers!
Edmonds Community College – Lynnwood, WA
Leveraging Partnerships for Student Success
Gateway Technical College – Kenosha, WA
Building a National Skills Training and Certification Center Network
North Carolina Community College System – Raleigh, NC
Greening the Workforce in North Carolina: NCCCS Code Green Super Curriculum Improvement Project
Polk State College – Winter Haven, FL
Breaking down the Silos - Shared Content between Corporate Training and Academics
Sinclair Community College – Dayton, OH
Dayton Urban STEM Teacher Academy
2013 Theme:
Becoming a FORCE FOR GOOD!
The Community College Futures Assembly convenes each year as an independent national policy think-tank to identify and recognize the role of Community Colleges in providing innovative solutions to the challenges of today.