COMMUNITY COLLEGE CONSORTIA: AN OVERVIEW

This article provides a summary of some of the most important writings on the characteristics of effective college consortia. It also describes a national study of two-year/four-year college consortia and partnerships in the United States . The sample for this study consists of 1, 172 two-year college presidents. Analysis of the data reveals that there are at least 9, 990 partnerships between two-year and four year colleges. The 9 most popular partnerships are described in the article, along with the presidents' views on the 10 most important elements for creating successful two-year/four-year college partnerships. Recommendations are made for expanding and improving community college consortia , including the suggestion that colleges consider the establishment of a new administrative position responsible for consortia/partnership agreements in the president's office.