AACC 21st Century Center

In 2012, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and its 21st-Century Commission on the Future of Community Colleges issued a bold call to action: If community colleges are to contribute to meeting the needs of 21st-century students and the 21st-century economy, education leaders must reimagine what these institutions are—and are capable of becoming.

The Commissions report, Reclaiming the American Dream: Community Colleges and the Nations Future, set a goal of increasing rates for completion of community college credentials by 50% by 2020, while preserving access, enhancing quality, and eradicating attainment gaps across groups of students. The report set forth seven major recommendations connected to attaining that goal.

The AACCs 21st-Century Center showcases the movement of idea to action. Here you can read, reflect and share about the Commissions report implementation guidelines. These guidelines provide a blueprint for colleges and others to implement the recommendations—to redesign students educational experiences, reinvent institutional roles, and reset the system to better promote student success.