This study centered on the lived experiences of five community college students who were formerly incarcerated. Through interviews, the students shared their expectations before entering college, resources they found to be most helpful throughout their enrollment, and what they feel could make them more successful. The research focuses on the…

This brief is rooted in the purpose and findings of a qualitative study that explored the experiences and perspectives of African-American/Black community college students in asynchronous online learning environments. A growing number of African-American/Black students are enrolling in California community colleges and online courses. However,…

This quantitative study explored the intricate landscape of marketing strategies influencing adult learners' satisfaction with their decisions to enroll in community colleges. Using survey research design, this study illuminated significant insights into the multifaceted world of higher education marketing, particularly in the context of community…

Background/Context: Public two-year and technical colleges have experienced declines in enrollment since the COVID-19 pandemic. While new data from the National Student Clearinghouse show that enrollment is beginning to increase, it is still below pre-pandemic levels and not all areas are experiencing the same levels of rising enrollment. At the…

Community colleges are Black males' primary pathway to higher education. Less than a third of Black males, however, are likely to attain a certificate or degree within 6 years. Although no single intervention can formally improve their academic trajectory, interventions absent of culturally and gender-specific approaches and institutional…

Historically, science, technology, math, and engineering (STEM) fields have been saturated with White males while persons excluded based on race or ethnicity (PEERs) are leaving STEM due to a lack of belonging and identity. The purpose of this quantitative multiple regression analysis was to identify whether a relationship exists between the use…

Upward transfer is the process by which students begin their higher education at a Community College or other two-year institution and then transfer to a four-year institution to complete their bachelor degree. Community Colleges enroll 45% of all undergraduates in the United States, or approximately 7.7 million students (AACC, 2015). From their…

The COVID-19 pandemic forced most community colleges across the country to radically shift the ways in which they provided instruction to a majority of their students. Over the last three years, these institutions have learned how to better support students who take online courses. However they are continuing to investigate and understand how…

In pursuit of its mission to increase the number of Tennesseans with a postsecondary credential, the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) and Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC) have implemented various programs and initiatives to encourage Tennesseans to engage with higher education and support students through completion.…

Twenty-two percent of United States undergraduate students are parents (Cruse, et al., 2020). Referred to as student-parents, they are most likely to have low-incomes and attend community colleges (Cruse, et al., 2019; Gault et al., 2014). They tend to reduce their course loads and drop out of college due to work-life balance challenges even…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how students described the role of intrinsic motivation to complete student evaluation of teachers (SET). It was not known how community college students described the role of intrinsic motivation to complete SET. This study included a purposive sample of community college students…

Even though more students are enrolling in online distance learning in public and private institutions, attrition continues to be a substantial concern challenging online distance learning in higher education institutions. Students taking general education mathematics courses have exhibited low completion rates at the community college level in…

For many open-enrolled higher education institutions, including community colleges, enrollment is dropping each semester creating significant financial challenges. While much research literature focuses on four-year colleges, little is known about the students who seek to enroll at community colleges. What is known is often evaluated using college…

Can using mindfulness/contemplative practices help students become mindful, focused, and present in the mathematics classroom? In this study, mindfulness/contemplative practices were used in the mathematics classroom to determine if students were encouraged to be mindful, focused, and present or engaged in problem solving. During class time,…

Diminishing student attitude toward the student evaluation of teaching (SET surveys) and its correlational effect on reduced survey response quality is a major concern. The use of SET to assess instructors for promotion and tenure extension is common and yet controversial in institutions of higher learning. As students become subjected to multiple…