The purpose of this quantitative, correlational-predictive study is to investigate if and to what extent Teaching, Social, and Cognitive Presence combined and individually in an online General Chemistry for Science Majors class predict Intent to Persist in STEM for Hispanic community college students in California. The sample size was 148 Hispanic…

This qualitative case study was completed at a rural medium-sized Texas community college and sought to understand how advisors and program coordinators made sense of the 60X30TX policy as it was implemented at their institution. The theoretical framework included community college, the Completion Agenda, structure-agency, and sensemaking. Each…

This three-article dissertation examined the implementation and impact of corequisite mathematics courses at four North Carolina community colleges located in urban areas. The first article was a multiple case study that examined student and instructor experiences to determine the characteristics of corequisite courses that students and…

California Community College campuses are struggling to enroll Latinx students. As identified through the literature, most Latinx students navigate the college enrollment process with little to no guidance and seek support in navigating it. Using Yosso's (2005) community cultural wealth framework, I investigate how Rose Grace College's Familias…

The purpose of this quantitative correlative study was to determine what, if any, statistically significant correlations exist between undergraduate STEM students' perception of transactional distance and their level of engagement in an online learning environment at two-year community colleges. The theoretical foundations for the study included…

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can impact an individual physically, emotionally, and socially while also influencing cognitive development and academic outcomes. Mathematics learning requires cognitive clarity and the ability to solve problems and make decisions. Guided by the contemporary theory of trauma, the theory of allostasis, and…

This action study investigated the experiences of current female students, recent female graduates, and female dropouts of a rural community college in Appalachian Ohio to determine what factors led to successful college completion. Although female enrollment exceeds male enrollment, females currently and consistently rank below their male…

This dissertation examined the acculturation experience of community college international students in the hopes of providing practitioners with a guide on best support practices. Considering the important contributions international students at community colleges make to the economy and the diverse environment at community colleges, it is…

Purpose: Service-learning (SL) is a widely accepted pedagogy that can enrich the learning experience for students in higher education while they apply their skills in a meaningful community service. This research is part of a larger project that aimed to motivate educational achievement among youths living in a priority neighborhood through SL.…

This book critically examines the rise of the higher education reform movement, often referred to as the "completion agenda," which, since the early 2000s, has sought to restructure core aspects of the community college experience. Using community colleges from across nine U.S. states as practical examples, it explores the major higher…

Mentorship is the guidance given by a more experienced and older individual to a younger and less experienced individual, usually working in the same profession or field. This relationship is developmental, with the mentor taking a key interest in improving and enhancing the skills of their protege. Many people attribute part of their professional…

The challenge to improve academic achievement for community college students has generated concern for decades, with renewed emphasis during the Coronavirus Pandemic of 2020-2021, known as COVID-19 (Roueche, 1968; West & Fabre, 2021). National and local initiatives for student success have been launched with mixed results from a broad…

This study explores how the construct of interest may influence first-year community college students' willingness to engage with academic text assignments. Research on interest theory as presented by Renninger (2009) suggests that students, even those with low self-efficacy or regulation, are more likely to make gains in engagement and/or…

Over the past decade, 113,000 adults with some college but no degree (SCND) have reconnected with higher education at Tennessee community colleges. Most of these students reconnected at community colleges after attending elsewhere, and many had made substantial progress toward a credential before stopping out. However, after reconnecting, fewer…

LGBTQ students are ubiquitous on community college campuses across the United States. The exact number of LGBTQ students is unknown and often their needs are ignored. LGBTQ students face harassment and discrimination at higher rates than other minority groups. This study was conducted to gather the current narratives of LGBTQ students attending…