Hundreds of community colleges exist in rural contexts across the United States, yet we know little about the work and career development of the thousands of faculty employed at such institutions. Through a review of current literature, this article demonstrates how faculty at rural community colleges encounter specific factors in their…

The Teaching Squares Program involves the formation of a three or four member group of educators from different departments or disciplines. The diversity in knowledge and experience helps to promote cross-disciplinary learning and professional growth among teachers. Once the group has been formed, the teachers select a class they will each teach…

Trans people make up about 0.53% of the population or more. Many of these individuals, particularly in the higher education classroom setting, do not feel supported and are subject to discrimination and oppression. Many faculty are not up to date on terminology or ways to be trans-inclusive in the classroom. Studies show that professional…

This study provides empirical evidence that PhD graduates working at community colleges feel less prepared than their counterparts employed in research universities. In addition, we find that perceptions of skills related to research are not predictive of feelings of job preparation for community college faculty. We offer recommendations for…

The purpose of this applied study was to provide recommendations for improving the professional development of self-leadership traits of professors at one of the state colleges in Florida. The problem was that leadership traits necessary for teaching excellence at the college had not been identified among the faculty. There was a need for more…

One of the easiest-to-implement forms of professional development for colleges and universities is the faculty-led book club (FLBC), yet little has been written regarding implementation, outcomes, and experiences of those participating in FLBCs as a form of professional development for college faculty. Book clubs are relatively easy to implement,…

This dissertation investigates the impact of a pedagogical class and a Community of Practice (CoP) on the implementation of reading strategies by faculty at a community college. It explores the types of reading strategies instructors plan to use, their integration into classroom practices, the factors enabling or impeding this implementation, and…

Studies show a need for career and technical education (CTE) faculty to have more instructional training. Greater use of evidence based instructional practices (EBIPs) would likely improve community college CTE program instruction by providing research-based guidance for effective instruction. Use of EBIPs remains low across all levels of…

This capstone investigates the integration experiences of new faculty at Somerset Community College (SCC) through Organizational Socialization Theory (OST). Acknowledging the multifaceted challenges that new faculty encounter, ranging from adapting to an unfamiliar academic culture to navigating institutional policies and building relationships…

The discussion has now turned into an enrollment boom for many colleges and universities. Dual enrollment provides opportunities for students to gain valuable college credit while still in high school. It is an opportunity for students to experience the college way and save money on future educational endeavors. The purpose of this study was to…

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to explore the relationship between the beliefs about diversity and the teaching behaviors of community college faculty who have participated in the Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning Seminar (CRTLS). The study sought to answer the following questions: (1) How often do CRTLS faculty implement…

New community college faculty have unique needs when it comes to adjusting to their new institution and learning how to better perform their job duties. According to the literature, professional development can help meet the wide range of learning needs of new faculty members, though the delivery and types of professional development offered have…

This descriptive case study investigates how full-time community college curriculum faculty members perceive and navigate professional development in their community college. Community college faculty teach nearly two-thirds of all undergraduate students in the United States and have a significant impact on the success of their students.…

This qualitative descriptive case study documents the experiences of culinary instructors furthering their learning of emotional intelligence fundamentals. Research participants included a total of 6 participants. The study was implemented as a collaborative inquiry project and was guided by the experiential learning cycle. The research questions…

Teaching-focused professional development (PD) programs offered at institutions of higher education (IHEs) are uniquely positioned to be levers of change that improve the quality of undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in ways that broaden participation in STEM education, workforce development, and…