Dr. Donald Generals

Dr. Donald guy Generals

Welcome to Community College of Philadelphia

The first step to a good life begins with the decision to pursue an education of higher learning. Choosing Community College of Philadelphia will place you among a long line of alumni and former students who have benefitted from the vast selection of programs, courses and learning experiences offered by Community College of Philadelphia.

As the city’s college, we are prepared to meet your educational and training needs by guiding you along a path in pursuit of your dreams. Our faculty are among the best in higher education and our staff are dedicated professionals excited about meeting your needs.

We hope you decide to attend Community College of Philadelphia. If you do, you will find that our rigorous curricula and relevant career programs will position you to pursue the career of your choosing or to continue your education towards a bachelor’s degree and beyond. Our students have transferred to Ivy League and top tier universities and colleges; and many have found employment with the top companies in the city and the surrounding areas.

Take the time to review our website or, if you have questions, feel free to contact one of our admissions representatives.

I wish you the best of luck and hope to see you soon.

Sincerely,


Dr. Donald Guy Generals
President, Community College of Philadelphia

The City's College - Plan for 2025

Dr. Generals Has Been Named a Metro Philadelphia Education Power Player

CCP News

Metro Philadelphia named College President Dr. Donald “Guy” Generals as one of 94 Education Power Players. The list includes influential leaders who are creating more accessible pathways to a quality education, fostering meaningful collaborations between schools and communities, and supporting the long-term success of students by ensuring that every Philadelphia student is learning.

Philadelphia Business Journal's Power 100

Philadelphia Business Journal

Dr. Generals has been recognized in Philadelphia Business Journal's Power 100, a group of influential leaders from various industries across the region. Selected by PBJ staff, the list considers those who hold powerful positions who are helping to shape the future of their respective industries.

The 2022 Power of Diversity: Black 100

City & State Pennsylvania

“Since Donald Guy Generals became the sixth president of Community College of Philadelphia in 2014, he has focused on increasing the availability and the visibility of the city’s only public institution of higher learning, which serves more than 35,000 credit and noncredit students from diverse social, cultural and educational backgrounds.”

Dr. Generals receives 2022 Globy for Educational Leadership Award

Global Philadelphia

Dr. Generals was recognized for his 20 years of teaching experience and leadership as president of Community College of Philadelphia. In this conversation with Global Philadelphia, he reveals why he began teaching, why modern college students should consider community college as an option, and what goals he hopes we accomplish by 2025 here at the College. 

Honoring Campuses Amidst Record College Student Voter Turnout

Forbes

College students turned out to vote at a record rate of 66 percent in 2020; a rate 14 points higher than in  2016 and on par with the general population. This week, the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge celebrated this success and recognized colleges and universities and the students, faculty and staff, presidents and chancellors, coaches, partner organizations, and election officials that helped ensure that college students across the country were able to register to vote and cast informed ballots despite a global pandemic. Dr. Generals was one of two college presidents honored at the ceremony.

Dr. Generals Receives National Standout College President Award

ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge

Dr. Generals was awarded the 2021 Standout College President/Chancellor Award by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. One of two recipients of this award, Dr. Generals was recognized for his leadership in helping college students improve nonpartisan civic learning, political engagement and voter participation. The College was also awarded a Bronze Seal from the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge for reaching up to 60 percent student voter participation in the 2020 presidential election. The two awards were presented during the 2021 ALL IN Awards Ceremony – the third biennial awards ceremony that recognized select higher education institutions, educators, and students for their extraordinary work in student voter engagement during the 2020 presidential election.

The 76 Most Influential Philadelphians

Philadelphia Magazine

Dr. Generals made the list of influential Philadelphians for raising the profile of the campus with smart and savvy moves, such as making CCP the first public college in the region to enforce a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for faculty, staff and students, and allocating $2.75 million in federal relief funds to pay off outstanding account balances for close to 3,500 students.

2021 ACCT Leadership Congress

Dr. Generals, Mayor Kenney and Jeremiah White, chair of the College’s Board of Trustees, gave a presentation at the annual Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) conference, held Oct. 13 to 16. The session, titled “A Model City-College Partnership,” highlighted how the College and the City have collaborated to achieve better outcomes for Philadelphia’s most vulnerable residents through three signature initiatives: the Power Up Your Business program, the Octavius Catto Scholarship, and the shared housing program in partnership with the Philadelphia Housing Authority.

Best of Philly: 2021 College President – Donald “Guy” Generals 

Philadelphia Magazine 

In the year of the Great Pandemic, a dozen area heads of school decided to decamp, retire, or become the ambassador to Germany. (Higher ed is complicated!) Yet Generals, president of the Community College of Philadelphia since 2014, shone for his public service and community engagement, including CCP’s “Enough Is Enough” initiative to help students work through the trauma sparked by George Floyd’s murder. 

Dr. Generals Wins National Pacesetter Award

NCMPR

Dr. Generals has been named the 2021 National Pacesetter of the Year by the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR)! He was honored at NCMPR’s annual conference, which was virtual this year. This award, bestowed to a community college president, recognizes the recipient’s extraordinary efforts to advance their institution; support the mission and visibility of community colleges on local and national stages; and inform the community about the college’s offerings, news and successes through marketing and public relations initiatives. In the fall, Dr. Generals was announced as the District 1 Pacesetter, which qualified him for national consideration among other district winners. NCMPR chose Dr. Generals based on several recent achievements under his leadership, including starting the Enough Is Enough teach-in sessions; expanding the College’s services and partnerships with organizations to address food insecurity, homelessness, financial constraints and other factors that affect student success; introducing additional dual enrollment programs for high school students; launching the Octavius Catto scholarship; establishing the new CATC facility in West Philadelphia; and working to increase local and national media attention for the College and our students.

Dr. Generals Recognized as one of the Philadelphia Business Journal's Power 100

February 26, 2021

Dr. General was recognized as one of the 100 most influential people in the Philadelphia area during the year 2020. The editorial team at the Philadelphia Business Journal selects the Power 100 using a panel of experts in collaboration with their editorial staff.

Dr. Generals Receives the Philadelphia Tribune Magazine’s 2020 Most Influential Leader Award

November 12, 2020

Dr. Generals has been awarded the Philadelphia Tribune Magazine’s 2020 Most Influential Leader award.  Annually the Philadelphia Tribune acknowledges African-American Leaders in the region for outstanding commitment to our community.

Celebrating 15 Years of Graduate! Philadelphia: Advancing Learning Pathways and Economic Opportunity

October 27, 2020

Dr. Generals was a featured speaker at ED Talks: A Showcase of Learning and Innovation in the Era of COVID-19. How do we ensure advancement in career pathways, promote positive health outcomes and help adults prepare for the future? Graduate! Philadelphia and local educational and nonprofit leaders discussed how higher education and workforce development is a driving force behind our region’s economic, health and social recovery. This virtual event was held on Tuesday, October 27, 2020.

A New Kind of Back to Work: Talent, Recovery and the Future of Greater Philadelphia

WorkingNation

WorkingNation partnered with the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia to bring together some of the people and organizations leading the effort in that city and the surrounding area to forge a jobs recovery for all its citizens. Dr. Generals participated on a panel of regional leaders to emphasize the importance of preparing and investing in workers to achieve economic recovery and health.

Dr. Generals Serves on AL DÍA’s 2020 Hispanic Heritage Awards Advisory Board

AL DÍA

This year’s honorees were selected by an advisory board of 16, led by Judge Nelson Diaz and a new co-chair, PECO President and CEO, Michael Innocenzo. Honoress are selected for their leadership in the nonprofit, public service, health, education and business sectors. AL DÍA’s virtual 2020 Hispanic Heritage Awards ceremony took place on Oct. 7.

Dr. Generals Receives Innovation in Education Award

The Urban League of Philadelphia

Dr. Generals was named the recipient of the Innovation in Education Award by the Urban League of Philadelphia during a July 29 virtual event, the 2020 Empowerment Dinner and Community Scholarship Program. The award “specifically focuses on the uniqueness of the ‘program actions’ that promotes teacher innovation, increases student interest and drives performance and/or achievement.” Rev. Dr. Lorina Marshall-Blake, president of the Blue Cross Independence Foundation and a member of the College’s Foundation board, received the Power of One award.

B. PHL Fireside Chat

B. PHL Innovation Fest

Dr. Generals was a guest on B. PHL's Fireside Chat series on July 22, which streamed on Facebook Live. He talked about the College as a vital educational resource in the city, how learning has changed with COVID-19 and how the College helps small businesses thrive through such programs as Power Up.

An Eco-system for a Poverty Action Plan: re-imagining, innovating and a call to action

Social Innovations Partners

Dr. Generals was featured as a guest speaker at a virtual event created by the Social Innovations Journal. He spoke on the issues that underly economic disparity in Philadelphia, and Philadelphia's Poverty Action Plan's promise to raise 100,000 residents out of poverty by 2024.

CCP president on Covid-19 challenges and the school's role in the fight for racial justice

The Philadelphia Business Journal

Donald "Guy" Generals said the school isn't just trying to prepare students for the post-pandemic economy, it also needs to take a "leading role" amid the fight for racial justice.

Community College of Philadelphia will start fall with online classes

The Philadelphia Inquirer 

"Generals said even if the city were to get the state’s “green” designation, which would allow restaurants, gyms, and other major venues to reopen at less capacity, the college will stay with online classes at the semester’s start. College committees, he said, looked at a number of options and couldn’t figure out a way to safely provide social distancing and other safeguards, such as testing, needed for an in-person start, given all the uncertainty, he said."

CCP announces plans to hold online classes for the fall

The Philadelphia Tribune

“Making this decision now gives everyone a chance to register now without worrying that their fall semester will be interrupted,” president of CCP Donald Guy Generals told the Tribune on Tuesday [May, 26]. “It also gives our faculty and staff time to plan for the best possible education experience this Fall.”

The State of Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Inside Story with Matt O'Donnell

Dr. Generals and Farah Jimenez, President & CEO, Philadelphia Education Fund, joined host Matt O'Donnell for an in-depth discussion on education, virtual curriculums, the learning gap for the underserved, the cost of private and state colleges vs. community colleges, and whether students take a 'gap year.

WURD Radio interview with Andrea Lawful Sanders 

March 19, 2020

Announcing the Octavius Catto Scholarship

KYW Newsradio

As Mayor Kenney prepares to unveil his plan to make the College tuition-free, Dr. Generals discusses the College's hopes to provide tools that will spur Philadelphians toward economic and cultural prosperity. 

Celebrating Black History Month

WURD Radio

Dr. Generals joins WURD Radio host Syreeta Martin for "Happy Hour College tour" to discuss the 1619 Project, new academic offerings at the College and more. 

Working to Make College Tuition-Free

Philadelphia Tribune

Immediately showing support after Mayor Jim Kenney announced at his inauguration that he wants to make Community College of Philadelphia tuition-free, Dr. Generals told the Philadelphia Tribune that he is excited about the Mayor's “commitment to ensuring that all Philadelphians have quality educational experiences from pre-K through college,” and looks forward to creating more resources for city residents to earn a credential or degree.

Growing Business in Philadelphia

Comcast Newsmakers

Donald Guy Generals, Ed.D., President of Community College of Philadelphia(CCP), talks about the partnership between CCP, the City of Philadelphia and Goldman Sachs to provide small business owners tools for growth. Recorded December 19, 2019.

Guided Pathways at Community College of Philadelphia: A Catalyst for Institutional Change

Community College Research Center

Dr. Generals contributed the second in a series by practitioners at AACC Pathways Project colleges describing their experience with implementing guided pathways reforms.

True Philadelphia Podcast with Matt O'Donnell

True Philadelphia podcast

Dr. Generals joined Matt O'Donnell on his True Philadelphia podcast to discuss why college continues to be so expensive and outpace inflation, how this generation of student is starting to seek more value in education, why Community College of PHiladelphia and other community colleges should be free, how education is the latest industry to be disrupted by technology, the importance of writing as a skill and more.

Dialogues: Dr. Donald 'Guy' Generals interviews Dr. William Hite

CCPTV53

Dr. Generals invited Dr. William Hite, Superintendent of Philadelphia School Districts, to be interviewed on CCPTV. The two discuss strategies, initiatives and challenges for shaping the future of education in Philadelphia.

Local couple’s donation will make CCP free for some nontraditional students

“Either due to personal, social, or financial reasons, many students delay going to college, which negatively impacts their ability to achieve a college degree or pursue career opportunities,” Dr. Generals said. “In many cases, the returning students are more mature and return with a stronger commitment to the value of education and its benefits.”

After battling faculty union, president ponders CCP’s future at his 5-year mark: ‘We want to make our students well’

“We want to make the community, our students, well,” Dr. Generals said, “both in terms of their educational prospects and opportunity, as well as the lives that they live.”

The Community College of Philadelphia Black and Gold Gala of hope and redemption

“This fundraiser is a way to acknowledge and honor those who committed themselves to college admissions,” Dr. Generals said. “Our goal was to honor students, alumni and community together, to celebrate the college and its mission to eradicate barriers for those who [wish] to attend college.”

Eagles’ Malcolm Jenkins receives award from Community College of Philadelphia for work in the inner city

At the Community College of Philadelphia Black and Gold gala, Eagles player Malcom Jenkins was presented with the Community Hero Award for his service in advancing education, economic advancement in low income communities, criminal justice reform, and police community relations.

Modern Day Heroes: A Celebration

Dr. Generals and Derrick Perkins share the success stories of three participants of the Center for Male Engagement Program at Community College of Philadelphia to celebrate the next generation of leaders.

Alum Innovates to Make Higher Education Accessible to the Nation’s Most Vulnerable Populations

“Philadelphia has a 25% poverty rate, which is the highest poverty rate of the 10 largest cities in the nation – the only way to break the vicious cycle of poverty is through education,” states Dr. Generals. “My vision of accessibility is focused on social justice, and the amazing faculty and staff at the Community College of Philadelphia have rallied around this cause.”

MaST students receive degrees from CCP

Six students from MaST Community Charter School graduated May 4 with associate degrees from the Community College of Philadelphia more than a month before their high school graduation.

Hallahan HS, Community College of Phila. ink partnership

Dr. Generals signed the agreement for a dual course of study between John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls’ High School and Community College of Philadelphia on May 9.

CareerLink Job Hub opens at CCP’s Northeast campus

“We see this Job Resource Hub as another pillar in our commitment to serving the community,” said Donald Generals, president of CCP and Philadelphia Works board member. “It is exciting for the Community College and Philadelphia Works to come together to address the need for coordinated workforce development efforts in Northeast Philadelphia.  We hope this new hub will benefit not only CCP students, but the entire Northeast Philadelphia community.”

Community College of Philadelphia unveils $7.2M in lab upgrades 

"The renovations are an investment in workforce development."

Dr. Generals Named in "Made Man Foundation honors 50 Black influencers"

"Fifty Black male business and community leaders were honored Thursday for their career and community achievements by The Made Man Foundation"

Philadelphia Business Journal's "Power 100" list 

"In a city where about a quarter of the students live in poverty, having access to education is a key to future wage and economic growth, and Guy Generals has continued to press not just student success at the school but at the four-year institutions that it has teamed up with to provide a clear, affordable pathway to a four-year degree in im-demand fields."

Dr. Generals featured in Rutgers Graduate School of Educational Impact Report

Dr. Generals was granted the honor of being featured by his Alma mater for his innovation and leadership in education. "My vision for accessibility at the college is focused on social justice, and the amazing faculty and staff at the Community College of Philadephia have rallied around this cause", he said. He also discussed his experience at Rutgers, his mentors, and historical figures that have inspired his journey in higher education leadership. 

Dr. Generals Recognized as one of Philadelphia's 'Most Influential' African Americans

"The Philadelphia Tribune, the nation’s oldest and greater Philadelphia’s largest newspaper serving the African-American community, honored over 150 regional movers and shakers at its annual 'Philadelphia’s Most Influential African Americans'"