A "critical access point in the STEM pipeline for Latinx students and other students of color" (Herrera et al., 2018), community colleges provide a seminal breeding ground for academic pursuits (Bahr et al., 2017). However, how personal networks influence STEM pathways of two-year college students remains largely unexplored. This mixed…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how high-achieving African American males attending community college describe how social support contributed to their academic experience in the United States. The theoretical foundations included The Self-Efficacy Theory and The Scholar Identity Model. There were three research…

Objective: This study is guided by Yosso's Community Cultural Wealth (CCW) framework and examines community college choice for athletes who eventually transferred to an NCAA Division I institution. Specifically, we aimed to answer the following research question: (1) What factors influenced college athletes' decisions to enroll at a community…

The existing research on community college faculty attrition has focused on such internal institutional factors as faculty work life and morale. Few studies have examined factors outside of an institution's control that may influence faculty attrition and no studies to date have examined such factors in a sample of rural-serving community college…

The problem addressed in this study was that first-generation Latino students underutilize academic support services, which affects college persistence, self-efficacy levels, and help-seeking behaviors. Although higher education institutions offer an array of student support, researchers have found many institutions find that underrepresented…

A qualitative descriptive key-case study focusing on the perceptions of women in leadership regarding organizational conflict with managers, subordinates, and peers was conducted. The study examined how women leaders deal with conflict in higher education settings. A dual concern theory (DCT) framework was employed to study women's perceptions of…

Community colleges in America are facing significant challenges that necessitate transformational change. Collaboration is essential to address these challenges within an environment characterized by external stakeholder interdependence, internal stakeholder interdependence through shared governance, and unique power and authority structures.…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of African American male former community college student-athletes who succeeded on their educational pathway. The study also sought to identify the supportive services African American male former student-athletes reported as contributing to their academic success. For the…

Rural students' college attendance rates continue to lag behind their non-rural counterparts (Ardoin, 2018; Barr, 2018; Byun et al., 2012; Byun et al., 2015; Byun et al., 2017; Friesen & Purc-Stephenson, 2016; Hlinka et al., 2018; Longhurst, 2014; McDonough et al., 2010; Morton et al., 2018; Tieken, 2016). While the body of research…

The problem investigated in this study was the lack of persistence of 1st-year African American male students at a community college in a southeastern state. In the fall of 2018, only 55% of African American male students progressed through their 1st year compared to 70% of White male students. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore…

Based on 12 in-depth interviews with Latino college graduates in West Tennessee, this study explores the effects of college experiences and cultural factors on Latino persistence. The study highlights on-campus and off-campus influences important to matriculation of the student toward graduation. Findings highlight how acquiring familial support,…

Continued professional learning is a consistent focus of attention for the field of student affairs within higher education. Yet, very little research has been conducted on the factors that influence the motivation of student affairs professionals to pursue continued professional learning, especially professionals within community colleges. This…

Many of the variables that determine college admission are beyond a student's control, including the academic track they were assigned as early as primary school--often referred to as "ability-grouping" or skills-homogeneous classes. Even in higher education, students feel the effects of unequal sorting and sifting from tracking. The…

For students with disabilities, the process for requesting and receiving accommodations, accompanying rules and requirements, and eligible accommodations differ significantly at the college level as compared to K-12 settings. Considering the differences in regulations governing accommodations and learning supports for students with learning…

A study of hidden risks, anxieties and barriers to STEM student transfer from community college to a large, comprehensive university is presented. This qualitative study employed a thematic analysis of student responses to a semi-structured interview that asked students about their hesitancy to transfer to a 4-year institution. Participants…