This study aimed to investigate and improve the experience for mid-level female leaders moving into leadership positions at a comprehensive community college in a medium size city in the Northwest of the United States. The retirements of the baby boomer generation have created labor shortages across all industry sectors. Higher education is not…

I review the literature evaluating sub-baccalaureate career and technical education (CTE) at community colleges. The goal of this study is to review the evidence describing how earning these types of credentials affects students' outcomes, as well as which program characteristics contribute to student success. The research suggests that, on…

This study aimed to provide a quantitative analysis of industry's perception of the effectiveness of community colleges, specifically from industries in the advanced manufacturing sector, within the state of Michigan. This study investigated interactions, awareness, and perception of effectiveness by industry leaders with community college CTE…

Urban community colleges fulfill a critical role in metropolitan areas. These institutions are often large by design, with campuses in various communities and neighborhoods so that the institution may fulfill its open access mission across a metropolitan area. This article addresses three emerging initiatives that enable the urban community…

This qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study was designed to gain insight into the lived experiences of female executive leaders in career pathways that lead to the college presidency regarding their menopause transition while working in the community college workplace. Men outnumber women in the role of the college president even though…

Linda L. García never imagined she would one day lead the Center for Community College Student Engagement (CCCSE). In fact, she never dreamed of earning a doctoral degree. As children, Linda and her siblings constantly heard from their parents--a father who grew up as a migrant worker and a mother who immigrated to the United States from…

The "Community College Skills-Based Hiring Playbook" is a comprehensive guide for community colleges aiming to implement or enhance skills-based hiring practices. By prioritizing skills over degrees, employers in partnership with community colleges can unlock opportunities for STARs and contribute to building a more equitable and…

Recent policies have expanded the availability of career-focused advising in high schools, including for students pursuing career and technical education (CTE) courses of study who might not have been adequately served by traditional college-focused advising. However, there is limited research on the effects of these policies. This study examines…

College costs and persistent workforce shortages have prompted educators, policymakers, and employers to shift the conversation on the transition from school from a narrow "college for all" emphasis to a broader "postsecondary education" and "career pathways" perspective. This paper describes an innovative effort to…

Community colleges have long responded to local workforce needs through assembling programming and alliances aimed at reducing workforce gaps while concurrently training the next generation of industry professionals. The emergence of the North Carolina Community College System's NC Career Coach Program, stemming from North Carolina General Statute…

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to explore the lived experiences of the mid-level female community college administrators in Pennsylvania, as well as explore the career pathways, aspirations, challenges, and opportunities for mid-level female community college administrators in Pennsylvania. For years, the focus of many…

This study explored the multifaceted journey of Black women ascending to senior-level leadership positions within Illinois community colleges. It aimed to uncover, understand, and provide actionable recommendations concerning the progression of these women into prominent roles, focusing on their unique identities, the impact of leadership support,…

Objective/Research Question: Master narratives, as theorized using a critical race perspective, are stories of the majority that function to obscure and normalize the oppressive operation of power in society. Counternarratives are the stories of minoritized individuals which expose and challenge the stories of the majority. This study examined…

In 2022, Maryland implemented a new initiative focused on removing degree requirements from state positions. This initiative opened over 19,000 jobs to more than 1.3 million individuals Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs)--such as community college, workforce training, or on-the-job experience--rather than through a bachelor's degree in the…

In this study, we examine an at-scale effort to encourage the formation of career pathways in California, with the goal of estimating the initiative's causal effects on community college enrollment. We leverage a discontinuous assignment rule used to award grant funds to obtain credibly causal estimates of an ambitious $500 million effort to…