The American democracy is experiencing strain from the erosion of democratic norms and its political, judicial, social, and economic institutions. In short, the American democracy shows signs of democratic deconsolidation. Community colleges are higher education institutions that help consolidate the U.S. democracy by representing democratic…

The goal of this article is to enhance understanding and appreciation of the current and potential role of trustees in urban community colleges. In working to make sure students are successful, trustees face numerous challenges in implementing high-impact policies and practices that center student success. This article establishes a node…

The problem addressed in this study is the underrepresentation of professional staff in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at West Coast community colleges. Although DEI efforts have mainly focused on faculty, professional staff have been overlooked, potentially leading to decreased engagement and feelings of undervaluation. This…

Primary research questions: What stories do student parents at Maryland Community College (MCC) tell about their intersecting identities? How do student parents speak about the institutional context of MCC in these stories? What are the implications of these stories in supporting student parents at MCC? Nearly 3.8 million student parents are…

This study examined the experiences of faculty members who transitioned into the role of department chair at community colleges in the United States. While there is research on faculty transitioning into department chair roles at four-year colleges and universities, there is very little research on this transition within community college…

Background: Upon returning to in-person teaching at Kingsborough Community College after the pandemic, I realized something profound had shifted in my students. The well-documented drop in community college enrollment attributed to the pandemic seemed to reflect deeper disjunctures that had led students to an existential questioning of the purpose…

There is little literature on what community college library deans must do to transform the community college library into an integral part of modern community colleges. Using a qualitative approach, this study examines the roles and responsibilities of an effective leader in a community college library. Semi-structured interviews with six Texas…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore the perception of community college women leaders on what formal and informal institutional structures exist within community colleges and how these structures support women aspiring to undertake leadership positions in community colleges in the Midwest. The theoretical foundation…

"An Analysis of Factors Influencing the Success of Dual-Enrollment Students Through the Perspectives of Faculty and Counselors" is a qualitative study. Dual enrollment has increased enrollment by offering opportunities to a broader audience. However, portions of this broader audience may be unprepared to face the challenges of being…

The present literature on leadership in higher education reveals that there is an association between the support of student affairs leaders and the success of the students who are single parents. However, there is a lack of research concerning the effectiveness of the support of student affairs leaders and how their support helps with the…

Despite the increasing entry of Latinas into higher education, this group continues to be underrepresented at the level of leadership. Previous studies have indicated Latinas that have achieved academic administrative leadership roles can play an important role in helping others to aspire to and attain such positions by offering guidance based on…

This quantitative, exploratory study examined the budget decisions made by administrative leaders and academic leaders at 15 Pennsylvania community colleges as measured by the Budget Criteria Instrument (BDCI). Sixty-two leaders ranked 15 budget criteria items on the 4-point Likert scale used by the BDCI and the responses were analyzed based on…

As higher education institutions adopt a neoliberal approach to education (Kater, 2017; Levin, 2007), the changes implemented can disrupt the organization (Christensen & Eyring, 2012; Kezar & Sam, 2012). Yet, the effects of neoliberal policies and practice on traditional faculty roles is not well understood and little research has examined…

This phenomenological study explored the ways women served as validating agents for Latino men who had transferred from a community college to a four-year institution. Informed by Rendón's theory of validation, participants expressed numerous ways in which women figures (e.g., mothers, sisters, significant others) were sources of validation across…

Higher education institutions in the United States currently face ongoing challenges and difficulties beginning in 2008 with the fiscal crisis which created a need for education and retraining for man, demand for greater accountability by institutions and a fundamental shift in the perceived value of higher education. Academic leaders of…