Given the current political climate of division, the study of history is important now more than ever, but the value of the study of history has been marginalized. This study used student focus groups to understand ways in which history could be taught in such a way that its importance is emphasized through relevance and connection to current…

More than nine million students enroll in community colleges annually (Fink et al., 2023) making them accessible entry points for individuals of diverse backgrounds (Fink et al., 2023). Upward transfer from community colleges to four-year institutions creates critical pathways to baccalaureate degree attainment, but only 33% of community college…

Community college students may become more vulnerable to food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may eventually impact their health, shape their interpretations of food insecurity and injustice within their lives, and cause them to reevaluate the support that they need from their community college. This study analyzes the food security…

Objectives: Nationally, community colleges provide academic instruction to 5.6 million students annually. However, sexual health services, are often lacking. This pilot study was developed to assess the feasibility of implementing screening for sexually transmitted infections in community college settings in New York City where approximately…

Community college career and technical education (CTE) represents one potential way in which students can receive important postsecondary education and training. Yet, existing research suggests rural community college students experience stratified access to CTE. Using a joint human capital theory and geography of opportunity theoretical…

Community college students' success in required gateway courses plays a key role in their academic progress toward credential completion. Focusing on students who earned a D, F, or W grade in their first attempt at a required gateway course, this study investigated if students' initial attempt course modality is related to their later choice to…

The implementation of California Assembly Bill (CAB) 705 has impacted how students enroll into Physics courses. This paralleled anecdotal evidence of a decline in student mathematical abilities. The goal of this research study was to determine the existence of a relationship between CAB 705 and student success in specific Physics courses. This…

Navigating the landscape of higher education takes more than just attending classes, passing, and graduating. It requires a set of skills known as "college fluency." Libraries play a pivotal role in helping fluency flourish, training their employees and other faculty and staff members across their institution to adapt to the needs of…

Navigating higher education requires more than attending classes and completing assignments; it requires "college fluency," a set of skills that enables students, faculty, and staff to effectively locate and utilize institutional resources. College fluency can empower students, faculty, and staff to navigate the complex culture and…

This dissertation is composed of three studies linking general education astronomy to student performance, course-taking, graduation, and identity. The first study examined demographic and academic predictors of astronomy performance among a cohort of N=1,909 community college students enrolled in astronomy courses in a large suburban community…

Since the John M. Belk Endowment (JMBE) launched NC Reconnect in 2021, Reconnect college leaders selected for the program have often organized kickoff events on their campuses to garner support and raise awareness for their efforts to recruit and retain adult learners. All five colleges in Cohort 4 -- Central Piedmont Community College, Haywood…

Community colleges leverage partnerships to create academic and workforce opportunities for students. Whether those partnerships are with local community agencies or exist between colleges, they alleviate barriers to academic success and prepare students for the next steps of their academic or professional journeys. For NC Reconnect colleges,…

AB705 is a landmark higher education policy that has changed approaches to developmental/remedial education in the California Community College system. We study one district that implemented reforms by placing most students in transfer-level math/English courses and encouraging enrollment in support courses based on multiple measures of academic…

The broad-scale challenges that higher education undertook in response to the COVID-19 pandemic changed a great deal about the student experience. Ongoing throughout several semesters, those changes may have affected the ways that transfer students experienced transition to the 4-year university setting, with implications for student retention.…

"Vertical transfer students," those who transition from community colleges to 4-year institutions, embark on a challenging path that often presents academic, logistical, and financial obstacles. For many, this journey is marked by disruptions in financial aid, unfamiliar campus environments, and credit transfer complications, leading to…