<p> This study examined selected community stakeholders' perception of the current leadership at their local community educational learning center during an organizational transformation and cultural change process. The transition from a community college to an educational learning center, mandated in 2006 by the Accredition Commission and agreed on by the Chancellor's office, was facilitated by a community college of another district. This process appeared to produce mixed reactions from various educational learning center constituency groups. During the transformational process, opinions how the institutional leadership addressed the task of developing a trusting and meaningful relationship with community stakeholders surfaced. Based on the survey responses gathered from selected community stakeholders from various community-based organizations, this study identified prevalent perceptions regarding the current educational learning center's leadership. </p><p> Previously, there has been no research examining how community stakeholders feel about the current leadership, state take-over, and partnership phenomena born out of a college district losing its accreditation. Therefore, while researching how satisfied selected community stakeholders were with the current leadership under these unique circumstances, this study also offered an in-depth look at college operations, accreditation expectations, and community relations. The majority of stakeholders surveyed were generally concerned about the current type of leadership at their local educational learning center, and the manner in which the state take-over and partnership impacted the subject community college district stakeholders during the organizational transformation and cultural change process. </p><p> While focusing on a transformational leadership theoretical framework, this dissertation revealed that generally, stakeholders had opinions that indicated they were not completely satisfied with the manner in which the organizational transformation and cultural change process is being conducted. The results of this study showed that community stakeholders were primarily dissatisfied with the type of leadership strategy facilitated during the transformational process; the manner in which communication is facilitated to the community and the quality of course program offerings. Opinions varied regarding campus services, facilities access and conditions. In the final chapter of this dissertation recommendations are offered to improve public and community relations under the unique circumstances of an organizational transformation and cultural change process of an urban community college.</p>

<p>The purpose of this mixed methods study was to investigate the relationship between student learning and participation in Equal Opportunity Programs and Services (EOP&amp;S) at Irvine Valley College (IVC). An embedded survey design was developed using William Sedlacek's non-cognitive questionnaire (NCQ), items from the Community College Survey of Engagement (CCSSE), items based on Marcia Baxter Magolda's model of cognitive complexity, and items based on student learning outcomes for learning in EOP&amp;S. Students' demographic characteristics, progress data, and grades were also collected. The survey concluded with four open-ended questions examining students' perceptions about their learning. Though there were limited findings related to grades as an outcome measure, several NCQ scales were associated with the learning in EOP&amp;S outcome measure. Qualitative and mixed methods analyses extended statistical findings highlighting the importance of positive outlook and positive self-concept. Finally, the study found that students' academic and social involvement played a noteworthy role in students' development, especially as related to cognitive complexity and learning in EOP&amp;S. </p>

<p> Studies indicate that transfer is a daunting and culturally difficult process for Latin@ students which may explain the overwhelmingly low transfer rate in such population (Bradley, 2013; Campaign for College Opportunity, 2013; Fry, 2011). This is compounded by the fact that administrators and educators have failed to recognize Latin@ students' unique needs and barriers by amalgamating them into the overall student population (Rend&oacute;n Linares &amp; Mu&ntilde;oz, 2011). This study sought to address the aforementioned problems by investigating successful Latin@ transfer students' identity negotiation and visualization of comfortable spaces at universities before and after transfer. The study focused on students who participated in a community college educational services program and asked whether the program facilitated students' transfer to four-year institutions. Using identity negotiation theory as a framework, the findings revealed that Latin@ transfer students faced unpredictable environments, described the university as a whole new world, and experienced cultural shock. Additionally, they felt insecurity due to the professors, academics, peers, formal language, and their identity as Latin@s. The students reported feeling disconnected, especially from White staff and faculty and other students. However, students started feeling comfortable as they connected with other Latin@s and saw the university as a place for professional and academic positive identification and escape. After time, students felt included because they connected with personalized counselors, felt validation from professors and counselors, and joined Latin@ or major-based clubs. Furthermore, the university provided comfortable spaces where students could connect with other Latin@s and people in their majors, and escape from their hectic worlds. The findings suggest that students who attended the educational services program and were actively involved in workshops and events that the programs provided were better prepared for transfer to four-year institutions. Recommendations are made to support the creation and enforcement of educational services programs. Other recommendations include the following: the promotion of culturally-specific educational services programs and professional relationship development and networking for Latin@ transfer students; advertisement of culturally-specific comfortable spaces where Latin@ students can meet other Latin@s, learn about their majors, and rest; and increasing cultural competency training for students, administrators, and educators.</p>

<p> California community colleges are under pressure to increase core student attainment outcomes such as graduation rates, transfer rates, and certificate completion rates. This study examined whether, or how, the allocation of institutional expenditures for instructional, student support, administrative, and total educational and general activities influenced the student success outcomes and indicators of student progress and attainment rate (SPAR), percentage of students who earned at least 30 units (thirty-unit completion), and persistence rate (persistence) at California's community college districts. </p><p> This quantitative, explanatory, non-experimental study employed Astin's I-E-O model (Astin, 1977, 1993) as a conceptual framework, and examined through bivariate analyses, the relationships between (a) two input variables of socioeconomic status (SES) and district type (multi-college or single college); (b) eight mediating variables of various institutional expenditure categories and ratio metrics; and (c) three student success related outcome variables of SPAR, thirty-unit completion, and persistence. By understanding these relationships more completely, policymakers, practitioners, and researchers may be better able to develop strategies to improve student success outcomes within available financial resources, whether funding levels are decreasing, static, or growing. </p><p> The key findings revolved around SES being the dominant influencing factor in the attainment of each student success outcome of interest. Further, the relative level of SES seemed to drive the volume, cost, and distribution of programs and services from a district's finite budget, as low SES districts spent comparatively more than high SES districts on administrative functions and student support activities, and spent comparatively less on direct classroom instruction. Meanwhile, high SES districts did the inverse and spent comparatively less than low SES districts on administrative functions and student support activities and spent comparatively more on direct classroom instruction. Finally, institutional resource allocations of major topline expenditure measures for administrative, student support, and instructional were significantly different for low SES and high SES districts. Yet, because of the significant impact of SES on the outcomes, the differences did not make clear whether, or to what degree, the expenditure allocations for administrative, student support, and instructional activities directly influenced SPAR, thirty-unit completion, or persistence.</p>

<p> In recent years, concerns over the future of community college leadership have intensified because of the looming retirements of college presidents who started their careers in the 1960s and 1970s. With senior administrative turnovers continuing to rise at the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Academic Officer levels, community colleges are looking for ways to prepare for leadership transition and succession in order to continue to operate effectively. Although the middle managerial position is often used as a stepping stone for senior administrative positions, little is known about the mid-level administrators and their roles. With little research on mid-level administrators, their roles, and the processes in which they develop their leadership skills, community colleges are not equipped with resources to tap into this potential and abundant leadership pool successfully.</p><p> The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of mid-level administrators in California community colleges, the challenges they face in their positions, and more importantly, to explore the learning process that mid-level administrators engage in to cultivate their leadership skills to address those challenges. The study was guided by the following research questions: (1) What are the leadership and managerial challenges that California community college mid-level administrators face in their positions? (2) How do community college mid-level administrators develop and cultivate their leadership skills to address leadership and managerial challenges in California community college settings? (3) What leadership skills, knowledge, and competencies do mid-level administrators believe they need in order to be effective in their position as well as their career overall? And (4) What leadership development resources and support do mid-level administrators feel they would need in order to advance to the next administrative level position? </p><p> The research methodology was a qualitative approach to understanding their leadership experiences. Data were collected by means of one-on-one interviews and a brief questionnaire. Data were collected from 12 participants who currently work as deans or directors in community colleges in southern California.</p><p> Findings revealed that challenges to the mid-level administrators include managing employees, campus politics, and an increasing workload. The findings also highlighted the importance of leadership mentoring and training for mid-level administrators so they can be effective in their current position and to prepare them for career advancement. Recommendations for policy and practice include adding new language in accreditation standards to focus on effective leadership and implementing ongoing managerial and leadership trainings for mid-level administrators.</p>

<p> The present study evaluated the effectiveness of two instructional approaches for remedial reading courses at a community college. The instructional approaches were strategic reading and traditional, textbook-based instruction. The two research questions that guided the quantitative, quasi-experimental study were: (a) what is the effect of strategic-reading instruction on the reading performance of community college students in a developmental reading course and (b) what is the effect of traditional, textbook-based instruction on the reading performance of community college students in a developmental reading course? The sample consisted of 64 participants. Two groups of students participated in the study: (a) the experimental group (<i>n</i> = 32), who received the strategic-reading instruction, and (b) the control group (<i>n</i> = 32), who received the traditional, textbook-based instruction. Students took the Nelson-Denny Reading test as a pretest and posttest to determine the effectiveness. The null hypotheses for H1 and H2 were rejected because the results of the paired <i>t</i>-test indicated strategic-reading instruction and traditional, textbook-based instruction have a statistically significant positive effect on students&rsquo; performance on the Nelson-Denny Reading Test Form G. Further, the one-way ANOVA test showed there is not a statistically significant difference between the difference scores of the students who received strategic-reading instruction and the students who received traditional, textbook-based instruction. The findings show that both methods of instruction are equally appropriate for the remedial reading course.</p>

<p> Single mothers increasingly seek college degrees at community colleges in order to provide economic security for their families (Wei et al., 2009); however, they often face a number of barriers that prevent or disrupt their education (Cox &amp; Ebbers, 2010; Smith, 2010). Campus services help students persist to degree completion, yet serving the population of single mothers can be particularly challenging for practitioners when confronted with students' numerous internal and external influences (Austin &amp; McDermott, 2003). Single parents who do persist have an important story to share with practitioners and policy makers in higher education.</p><p> This quantitative study explored the perceptions of the experience of Mattering as a motivator for persistence among single mothers in higher education. Mattering is defined as "a personal belief, whether right or wrong, that we matter to someone else and this belief acts as a motivator" (Schlossberg, 1989, p. 3). This study explored Mattering by investigating the following research questions: 1. To what extent and in what manner can academic persistence be explained by the student's perception of Mattering? 2. What is the relationship between self-perceptions of Mattering and selected demographics?</p><p> This research utilized a quantitative correlational design (Creswell, 2009). Participants (<i>N </i>= 53) included single mothers enrolled in a program at two community college sites (<i>N </i>= 2). An adaptation of The Mattering Scales for Adult Learners in Higher Education was used to measure the participant's self-perception of Mattering to their institution (Schlossberg, Lasalle, &amp; Golec, 1990).</p><p> Results indicated high alpha reliability for the data, but no significant relationships between a single mother's academic persistence and their perception of Mattering to the college emerged. Furthermore, while students' demographics indicated a range in diversity, their perception of Mattering to the college remained consistent. This research may inform community college practitioners regarding ways to help single mothers stay motivated in their quest for degree completion, which will ultimately influence a new generation of college students. The results may be significant in shaping policy, support services for similar programs, and contribute to the economic futures of single mother households.</p>

<p> Developmental education policies in community colleges are being debated by the federal and state governments, foundations, and non-profit organizations. Much attention is being paid to community college students who need precollege level coursework in English and Mathematics. The Massachusetts' Department of Higher Education is actively promoting dialogue about community colleges, but one group remains outside of the policy conversation, namely students. They are subjects of educational research but have not been considered partners in policy dialogue. </p><p> The goal of this study was to examine and provide a forum for community college students to communicate their perspectives on the supports and barriers they face in their academic progress, and to identify ways to improve higher educational policy at the institutional and state level. Students enrolled in an eastern Massachusetts community college and who were placed into developmental courses were invited to participate in a Photovoice Project as co-researchers with the author. Participants took photos, discussed them, wrote captions, grouped their photos into themes, and presented their work in an exhibit. Each participant also took part in a focus group to examine supports and barriers raised during the Photovoice Project sessions. The resulting visual, narrative, and participant observation data were analyzed using narrative analysis methods: thematic analysis, structural analysis, dialogic/performance analysis, and visual analysis. This study offered developmental students an opportunity to provide feedback on the current ecologically based model of education policy, where national policy defines the conversation, which is narrowed by state policy and, finally, campus policy with the student in the center of concentric circles. The analytic framework of identity was used to understand developmental students' multiple identities, expressed in their photos, captions, group discussions, and interactions, and in turn to understand how these identities were nested in educational communities: the classroom, the peer group, and the institution. Participating students appeared to gain a new discourse identity as contributors to the policy conversation around educational policy. </p><p> This research produced three themes based on the contributions of the co-researchers, requests for transparency in placement testing procedures, opportunities for reinvention, and ongoing opportunities to be heard. Students were supported in moving forward when they had opportunities to share power with others in the community; they experienced frustration and disorientation when power was simply exercised over them. The value of involving students in a participatory, visual research methodology was also explored; students expressed support for these types of participatory "voicing" opportunities for all community college students, not just developmental ones. Marshall Ganz's theory of public narrative provided a lens for explaining why a method such as Photovoice could serve to include this at risk population in the policy debate. This study provides a lens for reassessing policies at the institutional and state levels. Policy implications include re-examining enrollment as the basis for determining community college funding and including a calculation based on student retention; providing training and certification for faculty teaching developmental courses at community colleges; transforming placement testing, fostering a more challenging curriculum where developmental students encounter college level work, and institutionalizing inclusion of student voices in policy development. </p><p> The limitations of this study include that, as an exploratory study, no direct conclusions can be drawn but the findings may be useful in broadening the ongoing community college policy debate and indicating potential areas for future research to improve academic progress of all community college students, including those deemed developmental. Including student voices, especially those most at-risk in the most American sector of public higher education--the community college--is a democratic, social justice, and social policy imperative.</p>

<p> This study examined the presidential leadership practices of high-performing community colleges. The purpose of this study was to better understand the intersection between leadership and high-performing community colleges in the context of a complex and challenging environment. To this end, the study examined the leadership styles of four community college presidents to determine how their leadership influences the performance of their institutions. The study included interviews of four community college presidents serving at colleges selected as winners or finalists of distinction of the Aspen Institute Community College Excellence Program. Four faculty presidents from the same colleges were also interviewed to determine their understanding of how the college president's leadership influences the performance of the institution. The researcher asked three questions related to presidential leadership and the high performance of the community college. 1) What is the relationship between leadership and high performance at community colleges? 2) What type of leadership styles and frameworks are utilized by presidents at high-performing community colleges? 3) What competencies, knowledge areas, and skills do presidents at high-performing community colleges display? The eight participants in this study were asked 12 open-ended questions pertaining to community college presidential leadership practices. Results from the studyprovide insight into the leadership of community college presidents and the high performance of their institution.</p>

<p> As the national agenda is calling for increased completion rates and degree attainments in community colleges, a <b>predominantly White college </b> in the southwestern United States offering a large number of <b> online courses</b>, seeks to gain knowledge of the <b>conditions and initiatives</b> needed to allow success to happen among <i>males of color.</i> Although there is an increased participation in online learning and pursuit of degrees by women and students of color, men of color are no more likely to succeed in the online environment than traditional classroom settings (Jackson, et al., 2008). </p><p> The purpose of this case study was to examine the self-reported narratives, beliefs, and experiences of <b>African American, American Indian, Asian American,</b> and <b>Latino males</b> in the online environment to gain an understanding of conditions needed within and beyond the online environment where academic success can happen. This study reports how nontraditional and traditional male students of color <i>use</i> technology to obtain their educational goals. Surveys and interviews were used to capture descriptive narratives and experiences of their encounters with web-based learning. The implications of this study provide information for institutional practice and future research about <b>conditions</b> and <b>initiatives </b> <u>for increasing the retention and completion rates</u> of <i>males of color</i> in the online environment.</p>