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The nation's community colleges have an impressive to-do list: (1) Increase college completion by 50 percent by 2020; (2) Dramatically improve college readiness; (3) Close the American skills gap; (4) Refocus the community college mission; (5) Invest in new support structures; (6) Target public and private investments; and (7) Promote rigor and accountability. On paper, it's hard to argue with any of these seven recommendations outlined by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) in its 2012 "Reclaiming the American Dream: Community Colleges and the Nation's Future" report. If community college leaders are going to improve student outcomes and reposition their institutions for future success, reform in these areas is a must. But, as exciting as these goals sound on paper, they can be diffi cult to achieve, especially at the institutional level, where change is never easy. Navigating these reforms takes time, dedication, and creative thinking. To get a clearer sense for how the nation's community college leaders are conducting this tough but necessary work, the editors of Community College Journal reached out to campus leaders responsible for promising reforms in four key areas: institutional culture; instructional programs and workforce partnerships; students services and advising; and professional development and training for future college leaders.

The two campuses that make up the West Valley-Mission Community College District (WVMCCD) in northern California's Santa Clara County share a history typical of many community colleges across the country. Its buildings were constructed in the 1960s and '70s, and like many public structures of that vintage, today they bear the ravages of time--in need of routine maintenance and, in many cases, extensive renovations or even complete replacement. Finding money and support for massive public infrastructure upgrades is never easy. It is especially difficult in the shadow of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. A lack of funding has forced governments at every level to make tough choices, cutting capital spending for everything from highways to bridges to municipal buildings, and in particular the types of infrastructure upgrades most needed by the nation's community colleges. Community college administrators nationwide are grappling with the dilemma of providing 21st-century education and job training in aging classrooms, laboratories, lecture halls, technical centers, and other facilities, with scant state and local funds to pay for upgrades. As pressure mounts on the nation's two-year career and technical colleges to boost completion rates and resuscitate local economies through improved job training, the situation will likely get worse before it gets better. The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) estimates that community colleges currently face $100 billion in unmet infrastructure needs. Faced with a daunting $100 billion infrastructure backlog, colleges find creative ways to finance essential infrastructure projects.