The American Community College: A Predictable and Unpredictable Future

A literature review consisting of scholarly articles, books, and past and present interviews of college faculty, staff, students, and businesses was drafted on the future trends of higher education. Specifically, some past and present predictable trends, such as developmental education, data-driven decision-making, technology, accountability, advising methods, and accessibility were reviewed and expanded upon, as all will continue to affect higher education for the next several decades. A few new and somewhat unpredictable trends including, flipped classrooms, learning analytics, Competency-Based Education, open educational resources, and individualized learning pathways were mentioned.