This assessment considers the sustainability of initiatives begun as a result of participation in the Rural Community College Initiative (RCCI). Case studies were conducted at eight community colleges, and quantitative data was gathered from the U.S. Census, the Department of Labor, and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).…

American higher education's mission has always been to educate the "whole" student. Educating the entire student includes nurturing their academic, emotional, social, vocational, moral, spiritual, economic, and physical development to ensure they are prepared to successfully compete in a changing global society in and after college. Each…

Kentucky is using dual enrollment as one strategy to improve access to postsecondary education for its high school students, particularly after passage of Kentucky Senate Bill 1 in 2009, which focused on improving college and career readiness. The Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Appalachia undertook a descriptive study of participation in…

Many adults are obstructed from specialized professions based on their anxiety of math. Math anxiety has been extensively researched for over 3 decades. Scholars have attempted to define its origins as well as the means to eliminate its often-debilitating effect on learners. Research indicates that learners with math anxiety often give up career…

Drawing on data from a program serving displaced workers and adult students, this article explores how students at a small rural-serving community college in North Carolina believe rurality influences their retention. We review the research and descriptive literature on rural community college challenges, advantages, and approaches to supporting…

The purpose of this research was to determine how to identify, recruit, develop, and retain suitable adjunct faculty in rural community colleges in Ohio. The research problem resulted from a limited availability of potential faculty possessing the required credentials and andragogical training in Ohio's rural and Appalachian areas. Research…

This qualitative study examines the leadership experiences of 10 African American educational administrators and managers who are serving at or have served at one of four Northern California public community colleges that are located in rural communities and/or have minimal administrative cultural and racial diversity. Rural-serving community…

This research is a dual-case study which specifically focuses on two rural two-year colleges in separate parts of the United States: one in the central Southern region, and the other in the Northeastern region. I wanted to focus on these colleges' writing placement and proficiency practices in relation to their respective missions and how they…

Although dual enrollment and other programs that allow high school students to earn college credit are viable and beneficial, articulation is not being extensively utilized. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the articulation policy and its implementation between Alabama's high schools and two-year colleges. It was expected that…

Rural schools face challenges that are often different than nonrural schools. Resource constraints are particularly acute in rural schools, and they struggle to offer advanced courses and extracurricular programs. The purpose of this paper is to present a descriptive, instrumental case study of an inclusive rural science, technology, engineering,…

This paper intends to describe the recent experience of a small, rural, two-year technical college. After four decades of success, the college had found itself in a difficult situation with a substantial loss in enrollment and diminished state and local support, coupled with low campus employee morale. In response, the college team closed ranks…

The skill set required to attain quality employment is not being fully addressed in the community colleges. This disconnect produces laborers with skill sets that do not meet the needs of employers. Ironically, while the need for employees with increased skills rises annually, many graduates have difficulty finding employment in their career…

Research studies show that there is a skills gap in American society today. This research study examined employability perceptions of community college students at a rural community college in Mississippi. Students were asked to complete an online survey that questioned the degree of importance placed on several employability skills, as well as…

This second annual report provides high school-to-college transition rates for graduates of public non-charter, public charter, and private high schools. For students of public non-charter high schools the rates are reported in 12 categories based on the school-level demographic and geographic characteristics. This timely and comprehensive data is…

The purpose of this study was to investigate Black male graduation rates in public two-year, degree-granting institutions. Specifically, the researchers were interested in determining the influence (if any) of select institutional characteristics (e.g., attendance intensity, degree of urbanization, geographic region, institutional size) on…