Today's post-secondary institutions in the United States are seeing the continuous decline of enrollment. In Fall, 2020, there were 19 million students enrolled in college according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center in 2020, which is a decline of 4.4% from the prior year. While the decline can partially be attributed to the…

Many community college students do not finish their 2-year degree on time, and there are several institutional barriers that prevent students from taking 15 college credits per semester. Students are not aware of the academic and economic benefits of taking 15 college credits per semester. A 15 to Finish communication campaign, which has been…

The Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) is recognized as a leader in Basic Writing reform for community colleges due to their Accelerated Learning Program (ALP). The features Adams et al. adapted from various programs to better support CCBC students, particularly the central features of mainstreaming and acceleration, have helped reinvent…

This qualitative case study examined the process Northcentral Technical College (NTC), a two-year institution, navigated to design and implement a standardized prior learning assessment (PLA) program. With the projected labor market shortage, PLA is one strategy colleges have been recommended to use to provide the opportunity for students to apply…

Although there is no federal mandate that prohibits unauthorized students from enrolling in postsecondary institutions in the United States, the rising cost of attendance and inconsistent admissions policies have served as barriers for unauthorized students (Gonzalez, 2007, 2009; Perez, 2010). For this reason, states with large concentrations of…

Many community colleges face difficult challenges these days such as declining enrollment, increased competition, state mandates, and reduced government funding. Yet, online education remains an area of growth for many community colleges. The unique characteristics and organizational culture of community colleges makes them well-suited for online…

This research is a collection of essays that examine various aspects of a performance-based scholarship program designed to build social capital among first-generation community college students located in a large mid-Atlantic city in the United States. First-generation community college students, those whose parents did not attend college make up…

This dissertation examines the history, funding, structure, efficacy, and challenges of dual enrollment programs in English (and more specifically in First-Year Composition, FYC, courses) that provide access to higher education for high school students prior to graduation, as these programs have developed and currently operate in the United…

Conflicts are inevitable when diverse populations of students, administrators, and staff function in close proximity in the community college setting. Effective methods of resolving conflicts focus on supporting both sides in a dispute while creating an environment within which the participating stakeholders benefit from their interactions. Common…

Purpose: Most community college students do not graduate let alone transfer to university. Hence, the purpose of this qualitative study was to (a) examine the learned experiences of California community colleges and California State University (CSU) administrators and staff in implementing the California Student Transfer Achievement Reform (STAR)…

For more than 10 years, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) regional accrediting body has required all of the nearly 800 institutions under its umbrella to prepare and execute a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) as part of the reaccreditation process that occurs every 10 years. Pursuant to the…

Dual enrollment has emerged as an effective means of encouraging postsecondary college participation and acculturating high school students to the academic rigors and expectations of the college environment. In most states, dual enrollment participation is voluntary. To encourage more students to take advantage of dual enrollment opportunities,…

The percentage of students enrolled in online courses is higher for community college students than it is for students attending four-year colleges and universities (National Center for Educational Statistics, 2017a). The trend is concerning as community college students who as a whole, are at risk for success are enrolling in courses that have…

This case study examined the implementation of a baccalaureate degree at Skyline Community College--one of the 15 California community colleges authorized to offer baccalaureate degrees established as part of a pilot program enacted by the California Legislature via Senate Bill 850 (2014). The study explored the policies and procedures in place at…

This descriptive explanatory research study drew upon a system-wide survey of the California Community College system Student Learning Outcomes (SLO) Coordinators and other SLO leaders to explore how California Community Colleges utilize the Student Learning Outcomes Coordinator positions on their campus, what barriers campuses face when trying to…