<p> This multi-site case study is really the story of three same-state community colleges (Bridge and Buffer Community College, Grants and Reserves Community College, and Crystal Ball Community College) two years after they suffered a potentially catastrophic 50% reduction in state allocations. This study examined their responses to those reductions and attempted to frame those responses according to existing research on strategic activity and strategic positioning. </p><p> The theoretical framework used, referenced as a theoretical mesh, consisted of academic capitalism (Slaughter & Leslie, 1997; Slaughter & Rhoades, 2004), resource dependence theory (Pfeffer & Salancik, 1978), state relative autonomy perspective (Dougherty, 1994), and neo-institutional theory (DiMaggio & Powell, 1983). The synthesis of these theories facilitated the analysis of the findings of this study. </p><p> This study identified three key phenomena: The <i>Quartering of Community Colleges</i> to conceptualize and organize the abundance of external pressures facing community colleges, <i>Mandates to Neutralize </i> to explain the importance of an aggressive and formal approach to neutralizing external pressures, and <i>Embedded Community Colleges</i> whose strategic positions are strengthened through a deliberate, committed approach to fostering close relationships with their local communities.</p>
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PROQUEST/oai:pqdtoai.proquest.com:3605916 |
| Date | 01 February 2014 |
| Creators | Namuo, Clyne G. H. |
| Publisher | The University of Arizona |
| Source Sets | ProQuest.com |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | thesis |
Page generated in 0.1824 seconds