Purpose: The overall purpose of this journal-ready dissertation centered on community college students in Texas, was to determine the degree to which changes had occurred in upward transfer rates. The first specific purpose was to establish the degree to which changes had occurred in upward transfer rates for Asian, Black, Hispanic, and White…

The need for STEM transfer students from low-income backgrounds to complete bachelor's degrees is a pressing issue. A substantial portion of those students start their educational journey at 2-year colleges. The lack of transfer and completion of these STEM students is deeply rooted in systemic and structural barriers, which leads to many students…

The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides unprecedented federal funding for veterans to attend post-secondary education and make the transition to the civilian workforce. However, there is little empirical research on recipients' educational outcomes, especially in community colleges. This study investigated the variables that influence completion and…

This new series is a redesign of the NSC Research Center's two primary transfer reports, combining the enrollment focus of the "COVID-19 Transfer, Mobility, and Progress" reports (how many students enrolled as a transfer within a current term), with the outcomes focus of the "Tracking Transfer" reports (what percent of entering…

The pipeline from the two-year college to the traditional four-year university is not effective for most students. While college enrollment continues to maintain its importance, transfer and college completion rates are not increasing. Research indicates that, students who embark on their educational journey by enrolling in community colleges are…

Stratification in postsecondary education has been a persistent issue since education became widely available to women, racial and ethnic minorities, and low-income students. This unequal access to education has significant consequences on where people end up in the labor market because of the strong connection between education and job…

Community colleges serve a vital role in the education of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors in the United States, however, most research to date on STEM pipeline persistence from academia to the workforce has focused on four-year colleges, which limits understanding of the potential of two-year pathways in…

This article examines transfer center practices at a historically vocational community college to understand how transfer to four-year institutions happens. By focusing on the transfer center, this study explores the practices that could support transfer goals in a vocational and technical environment. Drawing on concepts of organizational…

W.S. 21-18-202 (h)(iii) mandates that the Wyoming Community College Commission (WCCC) develop performance benchmarks, outcome measures and other performance indicators which serve as the basis for annual reporting to the Wyoming Legislature and the Governor. The annual reporting must include, but is not limited to, the following measures: (1)…

California enrolls a much larger share of students in community college than other states; ensuring more of these students transfer to four-year institutions can strengthen the economic security of California workers. This transfer role is especially important for low-income students, first-generation college students, and students from…

The Student Transitions Project (STP) is British Columbia's collaborative research project that measures student success from the K-12 to post-secondary systems. This report features selected research findings on student mobility in the B.C. public post-secondary system, using data from the most recent annual STP update in Fall of 2018. All B.C.…

The COVID-19 Transfer, Mobility, and Progress report series aims to identify the ways in which the pandemic is changing transfer pathways across higher education. The pandemic's impacts on transfer enrollment shifted as the pandemic progressed, with transfer pathways and student groups showing diverging patterns over time. As the ninth issue in…

This article focuses on Latinx transfer inequity and the role of state policy in addressing barriers faced trying to move from community college to four-year institutions. A recently passed initiative in California, known as the Student Equity Policy, offers community colleges the opportunity to address transfer barriers for racial/ethnic students…

Researchers in higher education frequently evaluate institutional effectiveness as the difference between an actual and predicted graduation rate, but little is known about whether such a method is reliable or valid. This study examines the measurement properties of effectiveness scores derived from regression residuals for community colleges in…

"Reinvention" chronicles an unprecedentedly comprehensive approach to community college reform and the leadership challenges encountered along the way. The book addresses cultural clashes over the role and purpose of community colleges and argues for an emphasis on success and access. As chancellor of the City Colleges of Chicago, Cheryl…