Rural schools face unique and complex challenges and opportunities specific to rural contexts. Recognizing this, the Region 15 Comprehensive Center (R15CC) created and facilitates a community of practice (COP), the Rural COP, focused specifically on rural education in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah. The goals of this COP are to share…

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…

The purpose of this study was to examine how positive impacts could be achieved on student's ability to successfully navigate financial aid processes within the Maricopa Community College system and specifically at Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC). By evaluating existing processes and implementing enhanced system protocols (ESP), this…

Energy literacy is critical for all undergraduate students, particularly for future teachers, as they will guide the next generation toward more just and equitable energy systems. Many pre-service teachers have funds of knowledge (FoK) about energy that can enhance critical thinking about energy systems and inequities. This qualitative study…

The planning and implementation of effective transition services for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have emerged as crucial aspects of middle school special education. This action research study examines the impact of professional development and collaborative practices on improving transition services for middle school students with…

This is the executive summary for the full report, "The Economic Value of the Maricopa County Community College District. Main Report." The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) creates value in many ways. The colleges play a key role in helping students increase their employability and achieve their individual potential.…

This article presents a multiple case study exploring the emergence of inclusive learning communities within geoscience field courses designed to enable the active participation of students with disabilities. The purpose is to reflect on the outcomes of three distinct projects and consider what lessons can be drawn from them to help promote and…

Teachers must meet a variety of students' mathematics learning needs but are often not trained to do so. Little is known about how teachers perceive their efficacy to meet diverse math learning needs. The purpose of this qualitative collective case study was to explore teacher attitudes and perceptions of professional development (PD) and…

Effective communication about science is a core skill undergraduates should learn, but little research has explored how students communicate about culturally controversial science topics. In this study, we explored how Black undergraduate science students took on the role of science communicators in their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.…

Purpose: Schools play an important role in the incorporation of newcomer students and for determining who belongs and does not belong to the nation-state. In this article, we analyze students' experiences of belonging and exclusion in diverse high schools. Research Methods/Approach: We use survey and interview data from a mixed-methods study…

This mixed methods study examined students' perceptions of EcoJustice and Social Justice curriculum in an undergraduate children's literature course. Data included beginning-course and end-course Likert scale questions and open-ended responses, student reflective writings, and assignments. This study also examined survey responses from faculty…

This report provides an annual update on metrics related to the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) Governing Board Outcomes for University and Transfer Education, Workforce and Economic Development, Developmental Education, and Community Development and Global and Civic Engagement. While this report necessarily looks back in time…

The prolonged COVID-19 pandemic has placed postsecondary institutions in unfamiliar territory. Undoubtedly, postsecondary education must adapt to the realities of the pandemic, finding new ways to define academic expectations and rigor. Currently, COVID-19-related conversations among educators often default to focusing on students' race and…

This research project addresses the decline in student engagement, retention, and academic performance in a college Reading 100 course at a local community college in Arizona over a threeyear period. Catering to students with low reading proficiency, including international students learning English, the course faced new challenges brought on by…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to understand how 11 adult learners with ADHD described the academic, social, and institutional factors that influence their persistence at one community college in Arizona. The research questions asked study participants to describe their academic, social, and institutional experiences in…