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<p> The number of students of community college students in need of remedial math courses continues to increase each year; however, the success and retention rate for student enrolled in remedial math courses remains extremely low. The purpose of this study was to examine factors students characterize as impeding their ability to successfully complete their remedial math courses. Using a mixed method analysis, individual interviews and surveys were utilized to investigate this issue. Eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with EOPS students who had attempted algebra (Math 020) more than once, but were not enrolled in an algebra (Math 020) course in spring 2013. Based on their perceptions, seven categories of barriers emerged. The seven categories were then used as a means for developing a survey instrument for phase Il of this study. The surveys were administered to 208 students who enrolled in algebra (Math 020) during the spring 2013 semester. The impetus behind the surveys was to examine if the general population of algebra (Math 020) students had the same perceptions of the factors that impede their ability to be successful in their remedial math classes. Data were examined to investigate if there were any correlations or significance among any of the perceived factors. Although interviewees and survey participants indicated they had similar beliefs in regards to factors they perceived impeded their ability to succeed in their remedial math sequences, no correlations or significance was found among any of the data examined.</p>

<p> This qualitative study used narrative analysis to gain a greater understanding of the educational experiences of Latina immigrant English language learners (ELLs) and how they achieved and advance academically in the community college. The study used race-based (i.e., critical race theory and Latcrit) and asset-based methodologies (i.e., community cultural wealth) as a basis for focusing on the social identities of these students in order to gain a greater conceptual clarity of who these students are and how they are able to achieve and advance academically. The findings in this study identified current institutional inequities and challenges that hinder the academic progression of Latina immigrant ELLs, while highlighting the ways in which they draw their strength and gain support from those in their communities in order to address their challenges and achieve academically. These findings provide new ways of understanding the educational experiences of Latina immigrant ELLs. Suggestions for practice and research are made to help this specific population of students to ultimately achieve their academic goals of transfer and degree attainment.</p>

<p> The purpose of this quantitative research project was to add to the body of knowledge of incivility in the class by examining the perceptions of community college instructors in the State of North Carolina. Instructors were asked to identify behaviors they believed to be disruptive or uncivil in their classroom, indicate how frequent these issues occurred, indicate how they handled the disruptions, and whether or not they believed their practices to be effective. Each of the 58 community colleges in North Carolina was invited to participate of that 58, 13 chose to accept the invitation. The sample included 793 instructors who received the email at the 13 colleges and the respond rate was 162 or 20 percent. The instructors in the community college have a variety of students. Instructors have students in the age range of 14 to over 65 that reflect the community in which the college is located. The survey was adapted from Indiana University which ran an incivility survey in 2000. Instructors taking the quantitative survey also had text boxes in which to add their comments. Behaviors such as chewing gum in class or not being prepared where not considered as disruptive to the instructors as cussing the instructor or making threatening comments during class. Findings included no significant between an instructors race and their perceptive of classroom incivility. There was no significance between the instructors' years of teaching and the size of the classroom and their perceptions of incivility. The findings at the community college level mirror the literature and findings at universities and K-12 schools. </p>

<p> This two-phase sequential mixed methods exploratory study examined the perceived skill deficits of instructional deans at California community colleges to better understand the training and development needs that are necessary to support dean success and to prepare them for advancement in a timelier manner. This study is grounded in the theoretical framework of social constructivism and system dynamics. The literature indicates a need for competent leaders in the hiring pipeline to fill the predicted vacancies of the baby boomer generation in California community colleges. Despite the ongoing warnings in the literature for the past decade, little has been done to prepare future leaders for the mass exodus of senior administration. Further, given the structured path to senior administration, very little research has been conducted on mid-level administrators despite the critical role that they play in day-to-day college operations and the fact that mid-level administration is the accepted training ground for senior leadership positions. This study focused specifically on instructional deans, who make up a large portion of mid-level administrators. Perceptions were elicited from California community college instructional deans, senior administrators, and faculty. Results indicated that, overall, all three constituency groups interviewed and surveyed generally agreed on the skills required to be an effective instructional dean. However, there were frame gaps in perceptions, based on the position of the respondent, when it came to identifying instructional dean skill deficits, training provided for deans, and support. Additional findings indicated that on-the-job training is the most common form of instructional dean training used by colleges.</p>

<p> Most developmental community college students are not completing the composition sequence successfully. This mixed-methods study examined acceleration as a way to help developmental community college students complete the composition sequence more quickly and more successfully. Acceleration is a curricular redesign that includes challenging readings and assignments and reduces the number of required classes in the developmental composition sequence. Developmental students taking an accelerated composition class at the California community college studied were as successful as developmental students taking the traditional segmented basic skills course. Students who pass the accelerated course skip a developmental class and are eligible to take the college-level course, which saves them time and money. The students who were interviewed cited the main factors leading to their success: the academic support from faculty, academic support from fellow students, the personality/caring of the teacher, and an interest in the class theme. Data were from the first semester the college offered this class. Findings from the study indicate that the college studied should continue offering accelerated composition classes and should encourage attendance at professional development meetings so that all parts of the accelerated curriculum will be implemented in the future. Implementing all parts of the accelerated curriculum may increase the success rates. The college studied should also re-examine its traditional basic skills curriculum and the timed writing departmental final exam, which causes unnecessary stress and lowers expectations. More effort could be made to include readings from minority authors and to provide support, such as through learning communities.</p>

<p> A correlational inferential study of diverse urban community colleges found student engagement and persistence to be influenced by student body racial and ethnic demographics. An omnibus methodology was devised to quantify persistence of students with multifarious goals, allowing existing data about the student outcomes to be examined over the long term, inclusive of full-time and part-time students and those who stop out and return. This study adds to the understanding of peer groups as viewed in college impact models and recommends practices to improve student success.</p><p> Among the major findings of the study, student body diversity was found to promote student persistence. Student race or ethnicity was also found to affect persistence contingent upon student body racial and ethnic composition. Asian student persistence did not appear to be affected by the racial and ethnic composition of the colleges they attended. White students experienced a positive effect on persistence at colleges with no predominant population. Hispanic students experienced the greatest negative effect on persistence among all groups when they attended predominantly Hispanic colleges. Black students experienced less negative effects than Hispanics at institutions with predominant populations of Black or Hispanic students than they did when attending colleges with no predominant population.</p><p> Student academic preparation and access to financial aid were confirmed as consistent predictors of student persistence. The larger effects of background characteristics and preparation on persistence recommend a greater emphasis on active engagement with students to increase college effects on student persistence.</p><p> Racial and ethnic student body demographics did not affect student engagement patterns as strongly as they affected persistence. Higher percentages of Black or Hispanic students in college predicted modest increases in engagement while the percentage of Asian students did not predict engagement. Small differences between the ways in which Asian, Black, Hispanic, and White students engaged were also identified.</p><p> The evidence of effects on student outcomes at predominantly minority community colleges necessitates greater understanding of social normative systems to update theoretical models developed for predominantly White four-year institutions. The findings recommend developing educational practices that are sensitive to specific student populations, while also recommending better understanding of within-group differences.</p>

<p> The purpose of this quantitative research study was to determine if student background variables ([age, race, gender, and socioeconomic status, (SES)] are predictors of student persistence semester-to-semester (2009-2010). The sample population included 298 students, consisting of first-time, first-semester, full and part-time students working toward achieving a degree or credential at a rural community college in northeastern North Carolina. Community colleges enroll almost half of the nation's college learners, fewer than half of the learners who begin at community colleges earn a degree or credential within six years of initial enrollment. The semester-to-semester persistence rate from the sample in the study was 75%, much higher than national averages. Although student persistence has been researched extensively in the past decades, only recently has persistence research been conducted on the most diverse populations in two-year institutions where attrition is the highest. The lack of persistence leads to loss of college revenue, fewer graduates entering the workforce, and fewer students achieving their personal goals. Using associated research and archived records this study analyzed the effect of age, race, gender, and SES on persistence. Logistic regression, including descriptive statistics, was used, and determined varying relationships between independent variables and the dependent variable, persistence. No significant relationships were found between persistence and age, race, and SES. While some literature and empirical research with these variables previously found significant relationships, the current study did not and this may be due to; few studies conducted at rural community colleges, the use of rural sample size, and the reliance on financial aid by students. The strongest relationship was found between the independent variable and gender. The sample population consisted of 48% male and 51.7% female. The results showed that the level of the relationship between gender and persistence was p=.005, which was less than the alpha level of .05. Also, literature reviewed for the study showed that students' SES is significantly linked to persistence once the variables of gender and race are controlled. Future research could incorporate a qualitative analysis to provide useful information regarding these same independent variables in the context of the individual student.</p>

<p> Research studies have shown that one half of all students who begin college fail to realize their goals. This case study of one community college provided a comprehensive examination of best practices developed over several years through strategic enrollment planning. Additionally, this dissertation examined the decision-making processes that brought about changes through interviews and retrieval of archival documents. Both revealed an obvious path that brought about significant organizational change among departments and staff. This study may assist or provide guidance and recommendations for other institutions of higher education seeking to increase student retention.</p>

<p> This study examines the change process to enhance student persistence and graduation rates in four North Carolina community colleges. Using a qualitative research methodology, Lewin's change model is presented as a framework to investigate the acceptance and implementation of AtD principles in two community colleges. Processes to enhance student success were also examined at two non-AtD community colleges. The findings for this grounded research provide a rich understanding of the long-term impact of organizational change in AtD and non-AtD community colleges and inform future institutional efforts to improve student persistence to graduation or career-focused certifications. </p>