This qualitative dissertation explored the challenges faced by African American students in a Career and Technical Education (CTE) Hospitality Program at a Historically Black Community College (HBCC) in Alabama. Framed by Social-Identity Theory, Critical Race Theory, and the Inclusive Excellence Framework, the study addressed the…

The problem to be addressed in this quantitative study was the education system's failure to produce individuals with the necessary skills to fulfill high-wage, high-demand technical positions in the market. The study examined whether career counseling self-efficacy levels varied across different experiences, such as educational background, years…

This qualitative multiple case study explored district, school, and classroom level leadership support for school-family-community (SFC) partnerships in Title I elementary schools located in distant small towns or rural areas. Over five decades of research support the benefits of schools actively partnering with families and communities to promote…

In the United States, students often graduate from high school unprepared to succeed in college. In Alabama, fewer than 25% of high school graduates are college ready. Frequently, unprepared students enroll in community colleges, which are tasked to help them transfer to a four-year institution or to enter the workforce. However, students who need…

Modern conceptions of land grant institutions have shifted focus from community outreach to community engagement, with focus on more egalitarian partnerships that place community members in active response to university engagement efforts. Historical studies that explore these interactions often fail to capture the nuance and reciprocity of these…

Studying best practices in the aftermath of COVID-19 can offer evidence-based solutions to the challenges faced by postsecondary correctional education (PSCE), both those created or exacerbated by the crisis. This pragmatic, interpretive case study aimed to contribute to this effort by conducting a qualitative analysis of interviews and documents…

Open educational resources (OER) provide college students with course materials on the first day of class, ensuring an equitable learning experience for all. The concept of OER has been around for almost 20 years, yet many faculty and librarians are just now becoming aware as more and more statewide initiatives are introduced. The adoption of OER…

Self-efficacy significantly influences the success of school leaders in managing the school environment, offering instructional programs, and working morally with the community. In this study, I addressed the following questions: What are school leaders' self-efficacy and its various components of management, instructional, and moral leadership?…

The purpose of this study was to explore police chiefs' perceptions regarding the impact of criminal justice degree education on developing leadership skills in law enforcement officers. Specifically, the research highlighted how completing a four-year program in criminal justice cultivates critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and…

The Auburn University Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) degree program has enrolled fewer women in comparison to their male counterparts in each cohort since the inception of the program. The percentage of women has varied year-to-year but has never exceeded 35%. As women continue to increase their roles in upper management in the…

The increasing prevalence of single-parent households, particularly among Black single mothers, presents unique challenges in higher education. Historically Black Community Colleges (HBCCs) serve a significant proportion of non-traditional students, including single parents. However, little research addresses how HBCC leadership can effectively…

This study was guided by two key questions: First, what dimensions of continuous improvement do school leaders believe are most important to foster student performance in urban K-12 schools? Second, how does Alabama compare to national leaders regarding their approach to continuous improvement? Initially developed by Meehan et al. (2002), the…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore community college student perceptions of taking an online public speaking course within the theoretical construct of the Community of Inquiry model, which describes the manner in which the elements of social presence, teaching presence, and cognitive presence interact to create an educational…

The purpose of this evaluation was to provide descriptive feedback to assist coordinators of the Alabama Community College System's (ACCS) outcome-based funding (OBF) model in conducting a formative needs assessment. Employing a quasi-experimental design, this evaluation utilized both the CIPP decision-oriented and Stake's participant-oriented…

Campus shootings have impacted campuses across the United States for almost two centuries. Between 2015 and 2016, at least three historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) experienced multiple shootings where students were killed in each incident. This qualitative comparative case study used secondary data to explore the similarities and…