Abstract
How can community college leaders prepare for the effects of ever-changing technologies on their campuses? In his edited volume on different technologies on the brink of growth, Facing an Exponential Future: Technology and the Community College, Staat (2018) proposes that institutional leaders change their mindset and begin thinking as exponential leaders who consistently explore technological developments, examine how those technologies interact with the local business community, and make decisions for the institution appropriately based on this information. By doing so, Staat argues that leaders can respond to a changing world by moving their institutions forward in a way that maintains relevance and answers new needs from industry.
Each chapter within the text provides an overview of an emerging technology expected to impact society and discusses how that technology may affect community colleges in the short-term (next 3–5 years), mid-term (next 5–10 years), and long-term (a decade or longer). In Chapter 1, Baucom and Winfree explore artificial intelligence and its impact on technological growth, industry, and, as a result, community colleges. The authors posit that community colleges will have to shift their curriculum and focus to respond to changing industry needs that result from the continued growth of artificial intelligence. In Chapter 2, Gleaton, Shirley, and Walker discuss the rise of personal robots, a technology that has the potential to impact all sectors of life. For the community college sector, the authors speculate that this technological advance will create an opportunity to add programs and training to meet changing industrial demands. In Chapter 3, Barner, Dean, and McCormick delve into 3D printing and its growing impact on community colleges using case examples and current literature. The authors suggest that leaders invest in both 3D printing technology and curricula to respond to industry and enrollment needs. Chapter 4 by Blackwell, Davis, and Holmes focuses on drones and autonomous vehicles, two technologies that are quickly developing. While community colleges have opportunities as a result of these technologies, such as workforce training or industry partners, they also may face challenges including the need to adapt quickly and acquiring the necessary resources. In Chapter 5, Staat discusses the Internet of Things and its continuous growth in all aspects of life, stressing the importance of awareness of the technological advances and response by community colleges.
In Chapters 6 and 7, Hunnicutt, Johnston, and Stauble delve into genome development from the medical and agricultural sectors. Chapter 6 discusses the advancements in genomics and genetically altering DNA, focusing on the Clustered Regularity Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat (CRISPR) technology and genetic technologies in medicine. The authors suggest several strategies for community colleges to prepare for the advancement of genomics, including program development like trainings and certificates to provide continuing education on the new technologies for those with advanced degrees. Chapter 7 provides a brief overview of the science of genome development in agriculture before identifying the need for community college agriculture programs to adapt to meet this advancing technology.
In Chapter 8, Dozier, Griffin, and McLeod explore nanotechnology, which has the power to enhance numerous industries such as medicine. Similar to Hunnicutt et al.’s expectations for genome development, the authors speculate that the community college can fill an information gap by providing training to the workforce (both traditional community college students and professional engineers) who may be unfamiliar with nanotechnology. Staat, in Chapter 9, discusses bitcoin and blockchain developments and the potential change in financial structures of institutions and business curriculum as a result. In Chapter 10, Staat examines quantum computing, something that he suggests will lead to unforeseen technological advances. Instead of providing a glimpse of how quantum computing may impact community colleges, Staat leaves the readers with questions to ponder surrounding the potential of this technological advancement we may not truly understand yet.
In the final chapter, Staat urges community college leaders to consider the technologies outlined in the text and prepare for the exponential manner in which they change and will subsequently impact their institutions. He suggests that these technologies need to be researched and expanded within the community college system to meet the needs of industries through workforce training. By doing so, community colleges can maintain their relevance in a fast-changing environment.
Although this text explains the relevance for some of these technologies through interviews or institutional examples, many of the expectations for their impacts on community college campuses, both in terms of pedagogy and practices, are speculative. The assertions themselves seem logical and appropriate though, given the detailed discussion of the technological changes, and Staat’s volume will still provide a strong foundation for community college administrators and faculty to broach the institutional discussion on changing technologies and their institutions. However, the discussions on the various technologies only serve as a starting point for community college leaders to think through the potential of what they might mean for their campuses.
For community college leaders with limited or no knowledge of these technologies, this book provides baseline understanding that can further propel conversations with their leadership team, faculty, industry and higher education partners, and community members to ensure that the community college remains relevant in light of the ever changing technological landscape. For leaders with more knowledge, this text can still serve as a catalyst for considering the potential of these technologies on their campuses. As institutional leaders begin to learn about and define how they will respond to the technological revolution, Staat’s collection of works provides a detailed overview of what some of the major technologies on the forefront of society are and their relationships with the community college enterprise, which administrators can use to guide institutional conversations.
