<p> Higher education in the United States is facing increasing demands for accountability in response to dismal college completion rates. Seeking to increase educational effectiveness, many states reform higher education governance structures (Novak, 1996). Both states and higher education governing bodies have sought to increase college completion by improving community college to university transfers (Kisker, Wagoner &amp; Cohen, 2011). Transfer and articulation policies have been part of higher education for years, yet have rarely exceeded 33 percent (Townsend &amp; Wilson, 2002).</p><p> This study explored the cultural aspects of a new transfer policy from the perspectives of key stakeholders. It relied upon five precepts proposed by Tierney (2008) to determine the effectiveness of governance communication and decision-making. Handel's (2011) theory of a transfer affirming culture framed the findings as to the elements of transfer success at the community colleges and state university. Added to this theory was the work of Jain, Herrera, Bernal, and Solorzano (2011) which defines the requisite services for pre-transfer and post-transfer success of non-traditional students. This study was guided by the following research question: How do community college and state university faculty, administrators and staff perceive the transfer articulation policy in relation to their campus cultures?</p><p> A qualitative multi-site case study design was used to gather rich, descriptive, in-depth information (Stake, 1995). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with <i>N</i>=5, faculty and <i>N</i>=5, elite informants and <i>N</i>=1, staff. Three focus groups (<i>N</i>=3) were conducted with <i>N</i>=7 faculty, and <i>N</i>=7 staff. Data collection included <i>N</i>=7, observations of faculty meetings and analysis of documents that were pertinent to the study. The researcher analyzed transcripts, field notes and documents to corroborate major themes (Boyatzis, 1998).</p><p> Findings revealed that difficulties may exist between community college curricula and student transfer pathways as well as a cultural gap between community colleges and the state university. They also showed the politics surrounding higher education governance reform and a clash of political and academic cultures. This study may help policy makers promote state wide transfer and articulation initiatives and be instructive for faculty, administrators and staff as they create a transfer affirming culture on their campuses.</p>

<p> In 2011, with ongoing concerns over state budget shortfalls and the increasing educational cost structure, California state legislators focused their attention on measures that could lead to access, added productivity, and value in order to sustain the current educational system. One ofthe recommendations provided by the Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) was to eliminate state support for course repetition in activity classes. In 2012, the Board of Governors (BOG) adopted the changes to Title 5 ofthe California Code of Regulations to limit the apportionment a community college district could collect for student attendance in credit courses that are related in content. This limitation on apportionment was intended to specifically limit student enrollment in active participatory courses such as those in the visual and performing arts.</p><p> This qualitative interview study used the Discipline-Based Art Education framework to bring forth the experiences of 13 community college visual and performing arts (VAPA) instructors. The purpose of the study was to understand how VAPA instructors experienced the elimination of course repetition, how they reconciled the requirements of their discipline with the state educational policy, and how these changes influence the teaching and promotion of access to arts learning.</p>

<p> Globalization has resulted in the need for not only competent leaders but also leaders who have high levels of cultural intelligence. Currently there is a paucity of empirical research demonstrating causes of cultural intelligence, especially in the educational setting (Haigh, 2002; Knight, 2007; Rivera, Jr., 2010). The purpose of the current investigation is to examine whether educational experience (class level) has an impact on cultural intelligence and whether there is a statistical interaction between levels of cultural exposure and educational experience (class level) on cultural intelligence scores. A causal-comparative quasi-experimental cross-sectional quantitative study was used for the current investigation to describe differences between selected independent variables of educational experience (class level) and cultural exposure (none, minimal, moderate, high) on the dependent variable of cultural intelligence scores as measured by the Cultural Intelligence Scale (CQS) (Ang et al., 2007). Main and interaction effects of the independent variables on the dependent variable indicated that differences in educational experience (class level) and/or cultural exposure level have an impact on cultural intelligence scores. The data were collected from a population consisting of business administration students at a community college in the midwestern United States. A convenience sampling technique was used, drawing from the database of students enrolled in the business administration program. Because differences in cultural intelligence scores were found between class levels in college in the additional analyses, education might impact cultural intelligence positively, and strategies to foster more educational opportunities were recommended. Differences in cultural exposure levels resulted in differences in cultural intelligence scores in both the primary and the additional analysis and additional opportunities for cultural exposure expansion were recommended. The results of this study are useful because institutions of higher education prepare students for a global environment and advance the cultural knowledge of their students. The information from this study corroborates and adds to the literature on education and cultural intelligence and may suggest that institutions of higher learning should promote augmented cultural information/exposure. </p>

<p>This qualitative study explores the transition experiences of Post-9/11 Era military veterans from active duty military service to college students for the purpose of adding to the body of knowledge about this student population. The subjects, who voluntarily offered to participate, were 15 community college student/veterans and 10 four-year institution student/veterans. Each interview was transcribed to create a written manuscript and the data was analyzed and coded. The themes which emerged from analysis of the interview transcripts were financial issues, interpersonal issues, academic issues, community issues, isolation, and inconsistency of information received from academic institutions. </p><p> Community college students reported high levels of interaction with faculty and virtually no interaction with other students, including other student/veterans, while the four-year institution students reported low levels of interaction with faculty, high levels of interaction with other student/veterans, and minimal interaction with nonveteran students. The information suggests the need and opportunity for future in-depth studies of the student/veteran transition experience. </p>

No description available.

<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>