League for Innovation in the Community College January 2019 | Page 10

difficult for some in that those with potential for success took and advancement. Success does not even pertain to grades
precedence in college behaviors. Success covered a large or learning, but rather to a form of material capital, which
field of meaning, from the completion of a program (however promises economic returns to individuals and political gains for
long) and a certificate to the attainment of an associate’s or legislators. In this sense, the community college can be viewed
baccalaureate degree, as well as transfer to another higher as a pathway for the acquisition of private goods: a credential
education institution. Success did not cover those students that can be used for a job or a doorway to a university for a
who interacted with a community college for an English degree which leads to economic prosperity over a lifetime
language course to be able to function in their community or (e.g., the anticipated $1 million-$1.5 million). In this vein,
to talk to their children’s school teachers; it did not cover those success violates the democratic principles of the community
students who began a course of study but landed a full-time college, and emphasizes winners and losers—those who have
job and left college; and it did not refer to those students who succeeded and those who have not.
learned a skill, such as arithmetic or writing, but were lifelong
special needs students who would not move on to another
Capabilities Approach: The Development of Talent
level. Certainly, success did not refer to the psychosocial
development of students who might be undergoing personal Yet, there are other ways to understand equality of outcomes.
trauma or stress and who achieved some sort of peace One of these is the Capabilities Approach, developed initially
amongst the faculty and students of a community college. by Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen and furthered in thought by
Success was and continues to be a method of accounting: philosopher Martha Nussbaum, among others. In brief, the
the measurement of student outcomes based upon a Capabilities Approach, when applied to institutions such as
predetermined list of acceptable ends, such as credentials community colleges, points to the outcomes for students
Achieving the Dream leads
America’s largest network of
community colleges working
to accelerate and advance
student success.
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www.achievingthedream.org | @achievethedream
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