This three-article format dissertation presents a comprehensive examination of the 2017 Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE), focusing on its measurement properties across diverse community college student populations. Study 1 centered on the validity of the internal structure of CCSSE. Exploratory and confirmatory factor…

This study aimed to observe measurement invariance between community college students and university students in response to the Community of Inquiry (CoI) Survey instrument. Most studies of the CoI survey instruments have recorded and validated the instruments considering undergraduate or graduate students. This study sought to validate and prove…

Validation within higher education, "refers to the intentional, proactive affirmation of students. Validation, at the community college level, is closely linked to resilience, retention, as well as higher graduation rates. This research paper will address if students are able to find the validation that they require at the community college…

Community colleges are under ongoing pressure to increase the success of students placed into developmental courses; while many reforms focus on the length of course sequences, there is also attention on how students are assessed and placed. Studies of these assessment and placement (A&P) methods focus primarily on predictive validity; one…

Higher education institutes experience lower success rates in online learning environments compared to traditional learning. Students' engagement within the learning management system (LMS) is one of the main factors affecting students' academic performance and retention. This quantitative correlational-predictive study examined if, and to what…

This causal comparative study examined group differences in college readiness using the "Redefining Ready" college readiness indicators for rural community college students. Additional analysis focused on evidence supporting a high school experience, or combination of high school experiences, that most accurately correlates with academic…

Although temporal issues affecting organizations and leaders have been researched, time orientation (preference for one or more of the present, past, and future time frames) and visioning ability of change agents within organizations remain open for additional investigation. This exploratory survey study compared self-reported time orientation…

Even with extensive retention research dating from the 1960s, community colleges still struggle to identify the reasons why students do not return to college. Data mining has allowed these retention models to evolve to identify new patterns among student populations and variables. The purpose of this study was to create a predictive model for…

Practical nurses can provide quality, cost-effective care in an ever-changing health care setting which is faced with a shortage of nurses. A community college system in the southeastern area of the United States began using the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) V as part of admission criteria for nursing programs. While Assessment…

Accessible instructional materials are materials which can be used by students with disabilities as easily, effectively, and thoroughly as students without disabilities. Unfortunately, policy evidence suggests the California Community Colleges are not ensuring instructional materials are accessible. Surprisingly, while accessibility is often…

The selection for the best candidates for the nursing profession from a large group of applicants into a small number of program openings for associate degree nursing programs poses a critical task for nursing administration and faculty. Admission criteria vary throughout nursing programs. The selection criteria need to target students that will…

The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center (2015) reported that there were 2.4 million student transitions from one institution to another over a six-year period between 2008 and 2014. According to the Student Achievement Measure (SAM, n.d.), which uses National Student Clearinghouse Snapshot 20 data, only 11% of students who transfer from…

Students decide to remain enrolled in community college more so during their first-year of matriculation, than at any other point in their education. For the last three decades, community college leaders across the United States have been challenged by stagnant retention rates that hover around 60% (Mortenson, 2012). While Latino college students…

Women and students of minority race/ethnicity continue to be underrepresented in many science and engineering fields. Access to special programs, mentors, and internships may influence awareness, intention, and persistence in science and engineering. This dissertation investigates the experiences, beliefs, and career intentions of undergraduate…

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of validation experiences on academic outcomes for Oceania community college students, utilizing Rendon's theory of validation. Quantitative analysis of survey data showed Oceania students at a midsized community college were experiencing validating interactions with faculty and staff. The…