The problem addressed in this study was the lack of critical thinking (CT) and clinical judgment (CJ) skills of senior level associate degree nursing students entering nursing orientation programs. The purpose of this randomized Solomon four-group pretest-posttest comparative study was to compare CJ and CT of senior level ADN students entering…

This dissertation explores the impact of student organizations on the persistence of women in STEM programs at the associate degree level. The findings reveal that participation in SkillsUSA provides students with valuable opportunities for hands-on learning, skill development, and career exploration, all of which contribute to the persistence of…

The lack of access for the traditional clinical experience for nursing students, especially those in an Associate Degree nursing program, and the projected shortage of nursing faculty to educate nursing students in the clinical setting, fosters the utilization of different educational methodologies. The purpose of this action research study was to…

While community colleges intend for their students to complete their associate degree before transferring to a university, that is not always the case. Many students transfer when they are only a few course credits short of an associate degree. The study was conducted at a public university in Texas. The option of the reverse transfer process…

The number of nontraditional students in higher education continues to increase. Despite the increase in the number of nontraditional students overall, the majority of students enrolled in doctor of physical therapy programs are considered traditional. In addition, physical therapy students are among the least racially and ethnically diverse which…

This study examined the significance of selected independent variables such as continuous full-time attendance and resource utilization frequency, reflecting student integration and involvement, on the attainment of three academic benchmarks by the end of the fall 2020 semester among a subset of students at Kingsborough Community College (KCC) of…

Dual-enrollment offers high school students the opportunity to enroll in college courses instructed by college professors while they are still attending high school. Since 2015, the prevalence of dual-enrollment has been steadily rising (Smith et al., 2022). In California, the educational landscape has transformed from merely providing single…

Research suggests that newly graduated nurses lack confidence in caring for deteriorating patients and this lack of confidence could lead to poor patient outcomes. The aim of this project was to examine the effectiveness of a simulation intervention on the confidence level of Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) students in caring for deteriorating…

Community colleges play an essential role in providing student-athletes with the opportunity to continue to pursue athletics and go to college. Community college student-athletes' experiences, specifically those of female student-athletes, are critical to examine. Female student-athletes have unique academic and social experiences that can…

The purpose of this qualitative document review study is to investigate the potential gaps between which skills and competencies students are learning in associate degree accounting programs at community colleges in the Minnesota State College system and what employers are seeking in entry-level accounting position applicants in Minnesota. For the…

The purpose of this study is to gain insight on the comparative value of a DMS bachelor's degree and associate degree. While there are multiple training routes to become a diagnostic medical sonographer, it is beneficial to understand the perspectives of those that have experienced how training correlates to practice. While participant perceptions…

Nursing has a history of pursuing interventions aimed at improving health equity and reducing health disparities. In recent years, social determinants of health (SDOH) have demonstrated to be key factors in the pursuit of these aspects. The connection of these social determinants to health outcomes has reinforced the need for healthcare…

The advising experience of adult learner's academic and social engagement at community colleges. Based on the literature, it was not known how adult learners in an associate's program describe their advising experience with respect to social and academic engagement at community colleges in the southern United States. The purpose of this…

Job satisfaction and intent to stay in a nursing faculty position are critical in enhancing nursing education quality and addressing the current nursing shortage by attracting future nurses to the workforce. The unique challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic could have affected faculty members' job satisfaction and decisions regarding remaining…

There were concerns regarding the decline in four-year college enrollment suggesting that fewer students persist to continue education beyond high school levels or two-year college levels. Despite the decline in four-year college enrollment, the persistence to graduation with an associate degree was stable. There was a gap in literature regarding…