Reinvention chronicles an unprecedentedly comprehensive approach to community college reform and the leadership challenges encountered along the way. The book addresses cultural clashes over the role and purpose of community colleges and argues for an emphasis on success and access.

As chancellor of the City Colleges of Chicago, Cheryl L. Hyman implemented an ambitious program of systemwide reform called Reinvention. The program's impressive achievements included doubled graduation rates, improved transfer rates, and streamlined connections between college and careers. Informed by leading research on effective community college programs, Reinvention emphasized a shift in focus from access to outcomes, putting the priority on student success.

Hyman's background in business led her to a data-driven, goal-oriented approach informed by a strong sense of accountability--a cultural transformation that runs counter to established norms. Much of her work focused on creating college-to-career pathways linked to industries where there is significant growth in good-paying jobs in the Chicago area.

Hyman offers a wake-up call for community college leaders and those concerned with student success, arguing that a significant cultural and operational shift will be required for community colleges to fulfill this mission. The story of Reinvention--its failures as well as its nascent successes--offers an inspiration and a roadmap for those seeking to make change in higher education.
About the Author: As Chancellor of the City Colleges of Chicago, Cheryl Hyman was responsible for managing a $700 million budget, overseeing fifty-five hundred employees, and ensuring the success of more than 100,000 students annually. Appointed by Mayor Richard M. Daley in 2010 and reappointed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel a year later, Hyman led the Reinvention of the City Colleges of Chicago in partnership with faculty, staff, students, fouryear colleges, and members of the civic and business communities to ensure that all CCC students successfully graduated ready for further college and careers. During this time, the graduation rate more than doubled and degrees awarded annually were the highest on record in City Colleges' history. Hyman also launched College to Careers, which partners faculty and staff with more than 150 industry leaders and universities to better prepare students for careers in fast-growing fields. She oversaw a balanced budget each year of her tenure with no increase in taxes, saved $70 million, launched a $524 million capital plan, and negotiated student outcome goals into key labor agreements.

Before being appointed Chancellor, Hyman had a fourteen-year career at ComEd, an Exelon company, rising to Vice President of Operations Strategy and Business Intelligence. She served on the board of the Illinois Community College Board and now serves on the boards of Complete College America and the Chicago History Museum, is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and the Economic Club of Chicago, and serves as a member on the Urban Institute's US Partnership on Mobility from Poverty. She previously served as a court-appointed special advocate for children who were wards of the court, and served on the board of directors for The Night Ministry, a Chicago-based organization that works to provide housing, health care, and human connection to members of the community struggling with poverty or homelessness.

A graduate of the community college system she once ran, Hyman also holds an executive master of business administration from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, a master of arts degree in community development and a certification in nonprofit management from North Park University, and a bachelor of science degree in computer science from the Illinois Institute of Technology.