Critical Academic Skills for Hansas Community College Graduates: A Delphi Study

Abstract

A three-round Delphi survey was used to gain consensus among 23 community college administrators and faculty representing 19 community colleges in Kansas. First-round participants defined 199 critical academic skills for community college associate's degree holders. Second- and third-round participants rated the skill statements based on a nine-point Likert scale and achieved consensus on seven skills that included key critical competencies defined by Gardner (1994). The authors suggest ways to use the Delphi technique to define outcomes for assessing institutional effectiveness.