The Future of the Urban Community College

America's biggest cities are pulse points for the entire country. Already weakened by decades of decline, their uneven recovery from the recent Great Recession has resulted in the further concentration of prosperity in a few and hardship for all the rest. Their citizens similarly reflect widening disparity between the wealthiest and poorest, threatening an endangered middle class that used to be the proudest measure of our economic and democratic ideals. Urban community colleges are undergoing rapid, multidimensional changes in response to the new conditions and demands everywhere. The challenge for all, regardless of size or location, is to reinvent themselves so they can better meet the particular needs of their respective communities. This national higher-education mandate is vital to democracy itself, especially given the multiracial nature of metropolitan areas, where challenges and opportunities have always been most pronounced. The future is as unpredictable as the events that brought us to this critical juncture. Spurred by outside pressure and support as well as deep commitment from within, urban colleges are vigorously exploring new strategies for sustainability and success. In this volume, some of the most prominent practitioners examine every major aspect of the change-engagement process, including the role of governing boards, workforce development, community partnerships, and redesign of outdated business and finance models.