The popularity and use of online learning are continuing to grow. Faculty members must be available to teach online courses for institutions to offer online education. However, some instructors do not consider online learning a viable substitute for face-to-face instruction. This qualitative interpretive phenomenological study was conducted to…

The problem addressed in this study was the high rate of student nursing attrition. The purpose of this qualitative single case research study was to identify perceived barriers to program completion for registered nursing pre-licensure students to determine ways to help students overcome these challenges. The conceptual framework for this…

Much public discourse surrounds the intractable problem for some community college students in attaining a bachelor's degree through vertical transfer. Scholars have found 80% of entering community college students plan to transfer, yet this intent to transfer is somehow diverted for most (Jenkins & Fink, 2016). Although a new report showed an…

Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree graduates often enter the workforce immediately upon graduation. This study examined the vertical transfer decision-making processes of these students as they considered whether to enter the workforce upon graduation or transfer to a four-year university in search of an applied engineering degree. The…

Community colleges provide an education to a large share of college students. Yet, there is a paucity of research on LGBTQIA community college students, particularly how their experiences of marginality and mattering impact their sense of belonging, academic persistence, and personal development. Using the qualitative method of narrative inquiry,…

Internships are widely promoted high-impact practices that can have positive impacts on students' academic and post-graduate success, yet how specific features facilitate these outcomes is understudied. Instead, internships are often studied in terms of mere participation, without recognizing that these experiences are complex pedagogic spaces…

This research brief outlines a phenomenological study which sought to understand how community college students made sense of their engineering identity as well as explore how outsider perceptions of community college attendance and transfer influenced their identities. The study used the Community College Stigmatization Model (CCSM) and elements…

A study of hidden risks, anxieties and barriers to STEM student transfer from community college to a large, comprehensive university is presented. This qualitative study employed a thematic analysis of student responses to a semi-structured interview that asked students about their hesitancy to transfer to a 4-year institution. Participants…

Social relationships in the school context -- particularly teacher-student relationships and peer relationships -- are related to students' positive attitudes toward school, and consequently are of great importance regarding various aspects of learning and instruction. This can be concluded from studies that examine the influence of social…

Early college high schools (ECHS) have contributed to the increased number of Black students earning associate degrees. However, data show that students considered college and career-ready upon entering the ECHS/dual enrollment program are underperforming in college classes, hindering their acceptance into higher education institutions and…

The purpose of this study was to observe and measure the impact of a professional development course on community college participants' self-reported levels of data literacy and equity-mindedness, to ultimately improve upon institutional policies and procedures to help those involved use data in more equity-oriented ways. We used a mixed methods…

The coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic upended the academic trajectories and opportunities of many community college students in the United States. While four-year universities have seen an uptick in applications in the 2021-2022 academic year, community colleges have experienced a sharp decrease in enrollment, signifying significant…

The purpose of this single phenomenological case study was to examine the importance of an FYE or College 101 seminar and why this topic matters to Latinx students' success. The research took place in a two-year Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) located in the Southwest part of the United States. The overarching question was: "How can…