This qualitative case study explores the experience of three first-year English language arts educators within a small community of practice designed to provide personal and professional support for beginning teachers. The participants engaged in a 12-week session where weekly meetings, which alternated between workshop and discussion, focused on…

Higher education is experiencing leadership turnover and during these transitions colleges and universities are relying on interim leaders to fill this leadership gap. The purpose of this study was to identify ways to support interim leaders and leverage their experience into the development of professional growth opportunities at a large…

This chapter argues for the integration of public engagement into language teaching in order to respond to the current challenging environment for language study. "Impact teaching" seeks to develop language education through engagement with audiences beyond the classroom and especially outside higher education. One illustration of this…

This action research study followed a sample of first-generation, first-year college students through the summer 2021 orientation process at Towson University (TU), a large public institution in Maryland. Little recent research has been conducted to understand the student experience of the orientation process. First-generation college students are…

Performance funding has become a popular policy structure for public higher education institutions across the United States. The implications on budget and student success are considerable. This study examines performance funding through the perspective of chief executive officers (CEOs) at public community colleges in a southern state. Utilizing…

Open educational resources (OER) provide college students with course materials on the first day of class, ensuring an equitable learning experience for all. The concept of OER has been around for almost 20 years, yet many faculty and librarians are just now becoming aware as more and more statewide initiatives are introduced. The adoption of OER…

This qualitative, multiple case study examined the factors that affect classroom experiences of trans* college students in the United States pursuing associate, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degrees. Participants included 19 students with a variety of trans* identities attending various institutions across the United States. I conducted…

Community colleges provide educational, social and professional lifelines for students. Community college students are often characterized by their need to balance school amidst conflicting life needs, such as employment and family. As a result, many community college students struggle to find time to commit to on campus classes. Asynchronous…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive design study was to explore the perceptions of faculty, staff, and students regarding how academic and social integration affected student retention. The theoretical framework used for this study was Tinto's theory of student integration. The two research questions focused on how faculty, staff, and…

One of the biggest problems facing American educators is the challenge to increase student achievement in the era of accountability and high stakes testing (DuFour et al., 2016). Student test scores and achievement remain stagnant across south Georgia (GADOE, 2018a; GADOE, 2019b). One reform used by schools to help increase student achievement is…

The COVID-19 pandemic and the murder of George Floyd are recent, powerful reminders of institutional inequities in the United States. Culture consciousness in U.S. classrooms, though not a new concept, remains one that is hotly contested as frameworks like critical race theory and cultural sustaining pedagogies are debated, compared, and…

This study explored student perceptions regarding persistence in online coursework at the community college level. Using a case study design and thematic analysis, the researcher conducted focus group interviews and then identified themes related to the academic, economic, and social supports and barriers that impacted student persistence at one…

Students enroll in community colleges nationwide for various reasons. Some intend to earn a degree and transfer to four year colleges and universities. Some students plan to enter a program that can lead to industry recognized certification. Others enroll to acquire non-credit short-term training to develop workforce required skills. Community…

Nationally, community colleges continue to have lower retention, completion, and transfer rates for African American students (National Student Clearinghouse, 2019). Specifically, 55% of African American students who enroll in postsecondary education at twoyear colleges leave without earning a credential in 6 years. Teaching and learning must be a…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore the perception of community college women leaders on what formal and informal institutional structures exist within community colleges and how these structures support women aspiring to undertake leadership positions in community colleges in the Midwest. The theoretical foundation…