This dissertation seeks to increase our understanding of the factors that lead to student success at community colleges. Using data on a cohort of students enrolled at a two-year college, this dissertation presents the results of a longitudinal analysis. Citing the results of several persistence studies as well as the literature on…

In Patrick County Public Schools in Patrick County, Virginia, in 2007, one of the goals that developed for the school district was to increase the opportunities for students to enroll in dual enrollment programs. The dual enrollment model is not new to Virginia's secondary educational program. This model has been available to Virginia students…

The Foundation degree was introduced in the UK in 2001 with a view to addressing two main government agendas: widening participation in higher education and improving higher level skills. Both of these agendas are in response to a set of policy drivers aiming to increase levels of employment. Despite its importance in relation to these national…

This study examined the relationship between human patient simulation (HPS), critical thinking skills, and knowledge acquisition after HPS was integrated across the curriculum of an associate degree nursing program to determine if differences existed in critical thinking and knowledge of students based on the fidelity of HPS used and amount of…

The purpose of this study was to examine the pathway model of a nursing curriculum and evaluate the relationship and predictive ability of demographic and academic variables on the success or failure of those taking the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN®) and to determine the impact of noncognitive role…

When one hears the word "college", the first image one might have is of ivy-covered buildings on a tree-lined campus. The thing is, this image is largely inaccurate, and everyday it becomes further removed from reality. It belies the fact that less than 20 percent of today's college freshmen fit the traditional profile--that is, young…

Student motivation is a key factor in determining whether college students are successful in their academic careers and, ultimately their professional careers. Motivation is an internal drive within a person to move to action to complete a task. Student motivation encompasses self-regulation, determination, and efficacy. It is important for…

This report provides nationally representative data on the prevalence and characteristics of dual credit and exam-based courses in public high schools. For this survey, dual credit is defined as a course or program where high school students can earn both high school and postsecondary credits for the same courses; exam-based courses are Advanced…

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the American Graduation Initiative emphasize Pell grant funding and focusing on community colleges and sub-baccalaureate degrees. As a result, the administration's postsecondary strategy shifts postsecondary resources to the least advantaged students and the two-year and less selective four-year…

This article focuses on the accelerated associate degree program at Ivy Tech Community College (Indiana) in which low-income students will receive an associate degree in one year. The three-year pilot program is funded by a $2.3 million grant from the Lumina Foundation for Education in Indianapolis and a $270,000 grant from the Indiana Commission…

We address the emphasis of the California Community College system upon credentials in their effort to document student outcomes. Statewide curricular awards (associate degrees and certificates) were collected over a four-year period. Data were organized descriptively and analyzed in order to identify long term trends. These curricular trends are…

The national college completion agenda is in full swing but the role of "community" colleges in that agenda is under-appreciated. With a large share of projected job openings requiring college education of less than a bachelor's degree and offering family-supporting wages, the nation's community colleges can make a huge contribution…

The Obama Administration has helped articulate the important role community colleges play in educating the nation's workforce and boosting the economy. With a large share of projected job openings requiring college education of less than a bachelor's degree and offering family-supporting wages, the nation's community colleges can make a huge…

As a direct response to higher education's challenge to produce more engineers, scientists, and business professionals, universities have increased the numbers of degrees and continue to focus on increasing the numbers of students in these areas. As recently as the 2011 State of the Union speech by President Obama, the United States is posed to…

The 1999-2000 Transfer Velocity Project (TVP) cohort of 147,207 community college students is used to develop both a college-level endogenous model, appropriate for applied research and guidance for campus action, and a student-level model. Survival analysis (Cox regression) is employed to evaluate the relative contribution of 53 student-level…