who, with AACC’s help, will develop a
report that offers ideas and best practices toward the goal of helping colleges
achieve their potential. (See “Next Steps”
on page 32.)
In talks, Bumphus and several
community college leaders emphasized
the importance of partnerships and
collaboration between members of the
education and business communities.
Bumphus highlighted AACC’s continued commitment to building a
Voluntary Framework of Accountability, the
first national system of accountability
specifically for community colleges and
by community colleges. For more on
that effort, visit www.aacc.nche.edu/
Resources/aaccprograms/vfa.
Part of Bumphus’ faith in the process
of comparing notes and collaborating
stems from a background in the private
and public sectors and at urban and
rural community colleges. he served as
president of Brookhaven College in
Dallas, chancellor of Baton Rouge
Glenn DuBois (center), chancellor of Virginia’s Community Colleges, talks with AACC
President and CEO Walter Bumphus and other leaders at a Listening Tour stop in
Washington, D.C.
Community College in Louisiana,
and system president of the Louisiana
Community and technical College
system, among other positions.
Drawing from his experience, Bumphus
sought throughout the tour to impress
upon colleges the importance of
assessing their progress by their own
measures, not those designed for their
four-year counterparts. “Certainly we
embrace the notion of accountability,”
he says. “But community colleges need
to be able to help determine the metrics
by which they are judged.”
