Community colleges have a role to play in providing support for students as they exit vocational or career preparation programs. As colleges have been challenged by an expanding transfer function, it is important that colleges understand student expectations. Such understanding helps to both serve students enrolled in programs and to meet the…

This paper describes the methodology utilized to bring the 1993/1996 Katsinas-Lacey 2 year college classification system into the 21st century. The methodology involved using data from the 2000 United States Census and the National Center for Education Statistic's Integrated Postsecondary Educational Data System surveys for the 2000-2001 and…

Using Pell grant awards as a proxy for the enrollment of low-income students is common. The most recent National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) data shows that only 16.9% of community college students enrolled in credit courses receive these grants. This paper examines 7 different hypotheses that might explain this low rate. It finds…

This scholarly paper describes and analyzes the role of career and technical education (CTE) in Iowa community colleges. Iowa's community colleges are doing a good job of responding to the changing workforce needs of the state and providing smooth career pathways. However, changes in the population and economy of the state will call for further…

This study explores an holistic approach to family-literacy (FL) programs at community colleges by analyzing federal legislation for the William F. Goodling Even Start Family Literacy Programs. Exemplary state-level programs that incorporate the Even Start Family Literacy Programs into their community college's Adult Basic Education (ABE)…

Community colleges are facing a growing need for well-trained leaders. These colleges have often looked to university-based preparation programs for their labor pools, yet few attempts at evaluating their effectiveness in leadership preparation have been undertaken. The current study was designed to explore both the current state of these…

The community college is a major site preparing students for nursing careers, an important role at a time of a national shortage. However, many of the low socioeconomic status (SES), minority students who aspire to associates degrees in nursing display low levels of academic preparedness. An analysis of 3-year institutional data from a single…

For over 30 years, researchers and practitioners have identified challenges unique to small, rural community colleges. The purpose of this study was to examine the distinctive problems facing rural community colleges today and the challenges those institutions must address to fulfill their mission in rural America. There are 5 current challenges…

This recently completed study examined whether attribution theory can explain helping behavior in an interdependent classroom environment that utilized a cooperative-learning model. The study focused on student participants enrolled in 6 community college communication classes taught by the same instructor. Three levels of cooperative-learning…

Student or program deficiencies are the classic explanation for student departure from community college partners of career technical education programs. However, a complex set of factors impact college attendance, persistence, and departure decision-making. Participants' experiences both within and outside program structures can reshape long-term…

Recent national budget shortfalls in the United States have caused many states to evaluate various ways to cut their budgets--including cutting education expenditures--while community college enrollments have continued to explode. The combination of these 2 factors threatens the traditional open door policy of public community colleges.

This bibliography includes citations for empirical studies that draw upon both national survey data and institutional case studies to advance our understanding of the issues, policies, and practices that frame shared governance in American community colleges. References to recent scholarship on institutional governance in other sectors of…

This study examined the characteristics of a community college Web site by using focus groups and questionnaires with currently enrolled students. Consistent with other studies, organization and content are highly valued. Unlike previous studies, however, many participants did not utilize the Web at all in their application process. This study…

The research reported in this paper examined a set of innovative high school programs on community college campuses. Specifically, a full-time dual enrollment program and 4 middle college high schools were studied. The authors used in-depth interviews and observational data to investigate the structure, processes, and perceptions of effectiveness…

Job loss researchers have focused on the physical and mental well being of White working and middle class men, their families, friends, and coworkers to with immediate reemployment as the outcome. This study focused on low-income rural women dislocated workers and their decision to enroll in community college for retraining or seek immediate…