As employers struggle to fill 9.5 million vacant positions with only 6.5 million workers available across the United States, the role of community colleges becomes critical in educating workers. Open-door access and lower-tuition costs make community college an essential resource for people to access higher education; however, research shows the…

This study addressed low graduation rates at Midwest Community College (MCC; a pseudonym) and explored factors affecting student success. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to delve into nontraditional students' perceptions of the influence of compressed courses and the effect the courses had on their academic success at MCC. Over the…

The study aimed to assess the effects of year in college on students' perceptions of the cooperative learning process. Ninety-six college students completed 5 open-ended questions that asked students about their preferences for cooperative learning activities. Forty-nine first-year students and 47 second-year students participated in the study. A…

Many community colleges do not have a formal process in place to offer or support a structured gap year option for students who recently graduated from high school, thereby denying those students an educational option that has been recognized as beneficial to many learners. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore factors that…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how community college student-athletes who reside in the central California area describe how mindfulness training has influenced their psychological well-being. The conceptual framework comprised mindfulness-acceptance and commitment (MAC) to provide the theoretical foundation. MAC…

This qualitative study delved into the student experience of Latinx STEM community college students who had successfully transferred to a four-year university. The research examined counselors' roles in their transfer and how counselors validated students' experiences. Using the institutional agent framework, this study used semi-structured…

A local community college was experiencing poor retention rates among African American students, an issue that has challenged community colleges across the United States. To improve this group's retention, college administrators instituted a mentoring program; however, they later indicated a need to better understand which mentoring strategies…

With the needs of the workforce continuously changing, community colleges need to be able to adapt quickly in providing students with the skills they need to be successful in the workforce (Baird & Parayitam, 2019; Beckem & Watkins, 2012). Many employers claim that a common problem among college graduates is that they are not consistently…

Research concerning instructor feedback suggests that it should move beyond just providing "hopefully useful comments" and towards a higher standard of student-centered feedback that encourages self-regulation. Instructor feedback enhances student academic achievement and can positively affect students' self-regulation, especially…

Undergraduate research experiences can have a positive impact on student retention and success in STEM, but are not widely available to community college students. Yet, the role of community colleges in producing STEM graduates, especially Latinx students, is overlooked and likely underestimated. A program designed to attract and retain Latinx…

This research study examined the experiences of nontraditional community college students attending through a tuition-free grant. The intent of the study was to explore the student identified barriers to degree persistence and the student support services nontraditional students recognize as being beneficial towards their academic journey. This…

My Dissertation in Practice concentrated on sexual assault in community colleges with a focus on a mid-western community college. Sexual assault is a pervasive issue that has plagued higher education for years. The purpose of this quantitative descriptive exploratory research study was to explore students' knowledge and awareness of the policies…

Learning takes motivation; therefore, educators need to pay attention to what motivates the student to improve one's learning. It was not known how community college psychology students describe the use of gamification as a motivator for improved learning. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how psychology students at…

The declining retention rates of students are the current focus of community colleges throughout the United States, with two-year community colleges' retention rates dropping significantly. One reason for declining retention may be the lack of meaningful connections students have with faculty. Current literature lacks information about student…

The Minority Male Success Initiative (MMSI) serves as a system-wide grant opportunity from the North Carolina Community College system aimed at improving success outcomes for male students of color (North Carolina Community Colleges, n.d.). This study explored and examined the experiences of men of color who participated in MMSI programming and…