Public accountability demands have resulted in changes to higher education funding over the past four decades (Heller, 2011). The performance-based funding (PBF) metrics of retention and completion impact community colleges struggling to secure public funding, while addressing the needs of broad student populations (Dougherty, Jones, Lahr, Natow & Pheatt, 2016). Low-SES students access community colleges in significant proportions, and often with support needs that require extensive commitment from the institution (AACC, 2012; Zumeta, Breneman, Callan & Finney, 2015). Academic advisers serve as a source of support for low-SES students but may face pressure to realize the retention and completion mandates for funding at their institutions (Dougherty, Jones, Lahr, Natow, Pheatt, & Reddy, 2016). Through a non-experimental survey design, faculty and professional academic advisers at community colleges in Idaho, Nebraska, and Wyoming were asked to identify their level of knowledge regarding challenges low-SES students face while attending college, the behaviors the academic advisers routinely demonstrate to engage with low-SES students on their campuses, and the degree to which messages of accountability for funding are present in their institutions. Results indicated that while academic advisers felt secure in their knowledge of barriers for low-SES students and demonstrated willingness to behave in ways that support campus integration of low-SES students, advisers also strongly embodied PBF messages from their institutions. Also significant to the study results were the type of academic adviser, and the number of advisees assigned annually in relation to knowledge and behaviors when advising low-SES students. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]