We investigate operating costs at 682 public community colleges in the United States over a 15-year period (2004-2018). The results reveal that costs are spatially correlated across neighboring institutions, indicating the need for a spatial analysis. An institution's actions are associated with changes in costs for that particular institution…

In the following systematic review, the author examines how rural community college leaders address the unique challenges and strengths of working in a rural environment as they strive to retain, support, develop, compensate, and invest in their employees. Factors such as geographic isolation, small population sizes, and close-knit social networks…

Community college presidents play a critical role in making decisions that shape the organizational cultures and policies of their institutions. This study explored the perceptions of 15 public community college presidents in Texas. Using focus groups and grounded theory methods, this research applied analytical frameworks focused on human…

Business process management (BPM) practices have been successfully deployed for decades to make organizations outside of the education sector more efficient. Many external changes such as the COVID-19 pandemic are impacting the higher education sector and will force community colleges leaders to re-evaluate their strategic plan and to adjust their…

Higher education is facing increased workforce challenges and is in dire need of effective Human Resource Development (HRD) practices. The purpose of this two-phase qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of supervisors and employees regarding the performance management (PM) system at a large-sized urban community college. Phase I was…

Developed by the Institute for Evidence-Based Change (IEBC), Caring Campus is at once a reform effort that colleges engage in to improve the daily experience of their students and an approach aimed at influencing the norms, values, practices, beliefs, and assumptions that comprise the culture of a college. Drawing on interviews with the presidents…

This study utilizes an extensive panel data set spanning 15 years (2004-2018) and 752 public community colleges to investigate operating costs and persistent cost efficiency at public community colleges in the United States. We employ a generalized true random effects (GTRE) regression model that takes into account spatial correlation of costs…

The purpose of this study was to assess the degree colleges' preparation for the new transition phase, transferring the BA/BSc programs into ADA/ADS programs. The participants of this qualitative study were principals of Degree Colleges in the Makran division and data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Themes generated from data…

Strategies to recruit and hire faculty and staff of color to the Commonwealth of Kentucky's population levels have continued for 57 years. From Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to the Kentucky Plan in 1982 to the Strategic Plan for Kentucky Higher Education from 1982 to 1995, to the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education's 2010-2015…

Using a critical lens, this article discusses some of the most common recommendations for human resource and community college leaders on how to respond to budget cuts to student affairs and support services at community colleges. Student affairs and support services are often the first to experience budget cuts in higher education, yet little is…

This qualitative case study aims to better understand the institutional impacts of implementing Competency-Based Education (CBE) at a large, multi-campus community college through the perspectives of college staff and administration and non-academic units. Recent United States Presidential Administrations have put community colleges at the…

North Central State College provides a case study of how a small college can increase revenue by strategically realigning its existing staff resources for improving student retention and success, even in a period of stagnant enrollment. The college implemented a series of major reforms with the aim of improving student retention and completion on…

This case study research examined employee job satisfaction best practices at three community college receiving recognition through the Chronicle of Higher Education Great College to Work For designation. The leadership and human resource practices at these institutions were explored through employee interviews, collection of documents, and…

Considering the strong Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) strategic and theoretical resources available to many in the enrollment management field, it's surprising to some that institutions with the best plans and resources still struggle with consistent execution. While enrollment management can be heavily influenced by factors outside of an…

Cutting programs and laying off staff is one of the hardest parts of a community college president's job. Not only is it emotional for everyone involved, but the political fallout can be damaging as well. How campus leaders arrive at the difficult choice to cut staff and programs, and how they communicate their decision to stakeholders, can make a…