The purpose of this qualitative case study was to identify the critical factors of professional instruction that positively influence employee engagement. The setting for this study was a 7,500-student, two-year college and career training institutional district that is located in the midwestern region of the United States. The research sample for…

The COVID pandemic has transformed American higher education in ways that have yet to be fully comprehended. The abrupt shift toward online instruction was the first reaction to the growing threat of COVID. The effects of this shift were far-reaching. Specifically, this realignment to online delivery models created new links between or among…

This research examined the perceived data literacy skills of middle and senior-level administrators in a community college system in relation to leadership competencies. This study sought to determine if the independent variable, administrator type (manager, executive, or chief operating officer), relates to the perceived data literacy skills…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore, understand, and document former students' perceptions of the vocationally focused theater training they received at a 2-year community college and to discover how that training helped them meet their goals and expectations for careers in the theater. Listening to individual stories of theater…

This dissertation describes a study that examined the experiences of community college leaders engaged in leading institutional change to improve student success. The study was conducted at a mid-size, public, 2-year institution in Southern California. Eight participants were chosen through purposeful snowball sampling of leaders from across the…

Postsecondary institutions are measured in part by their students' success and retention rates and seek to employ best practices with their students to prepare them for academic success. Federal, state, and local government programs have produced guidelines for preparing students who are academically ready to enter the workforce. Research findings…

The purpose of this quantitative correlative study was to determine what, if any, statistically significant correlations exist between undergraduate STEM students' perception of transactional distance and their level of engagement in an online learning environment at two-year community colleges. The theoretical foundations for the study included…

Retention rates are considerably lower for students attending two-year postsecondary institutions when compared to their counterparts at four-year postsecondary institutions. This disparity may stem from the greater number of nontraditional students at two-year postsecondary institutions, who often struggle to balance their studies and…

This doctoral research study examined how professional-technical faculty experienced their onboarding and support as they transitioned from industry into teaching. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eleven professional-technical instructors who were within their first five years of full-time employment at a two-year community college…

The first-year writing (FYW) course is located at a crucial moment in a student's educational pursuits: it is one of the few required courses that nearly all students must take, and success in this course is often an early indicator of whether a student is likely to graduate. This dissertation examines how writing assessment and FYW have been used…

This narrative inquiry brings together a re-emerging interest in the civic mission of higher education and inquiry about individual civic identity development, with a lens focused on the currently underrepresented voices of community college students. The purpose of this study is to increase our understanding of the meaning that community college…

In the wake of post-COVID-era anti-Asian hate, Asian American employees at a two-year community and technical college have been grappling with mental health challenges while steadfastly carrying out their responsibilities. The purpose of this study was help create a supportive system so Asian American employees could achieve their professional…

The strength of alignment between Student Housing and its functions with Student Life may impact its ability to promote the retention and persistence of first-generation and historically excluded students who live on campus. The purpose of this action research study was to investigate the role of Student Housing, as a Public-Private Partnership,…

The Associate-Degree Nursing Student (ADN) self-care practices will assist in determining success during the first semester of nursing school. Understanding the first-semester ADN nursing students' self-care strategies will help produce a future nurse as academic pressure can derail a successful graduate. What is not fully known is how the…

Higher education institutions provide programs and services in support of personal, professional, and community development. The positive impact of higher education is threatened by the imminent departures of experienced employees responsible for implementing institutional programs and services. Research suggests succession planning assists…