A significant amount of recent research and media coverage has focused on the challenges related to K-12 teacher shortages, particularly in rural regions of the United States. Far less research, however, has been conducted on the challenges faced by rural community colleges related to recruiting and retaining both academic and professional…

In the following systematic review, the author examines how rural community college leaders address the unique challenges and strengths of working in a rural environment as they strive to retain, support, develop, compensate, and invest in their employees. Factors such as geographic isolation, small population sizes, and close-knit social networks…

This study focused on the female perspective of authentic leadership and the careers of female faculty of rural community colleges. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how female faculty of community colleges in rural communities perceive the influence of authentic leadership-self-awareness, moral perspective, balanced processing,…

This dissertation examines the troubling underrepresentation of staff of color in Pacific Northwest community colleges. Despite the proven benefits of racial staff diversity in promoting student success, community colleges face challenges in recruiting and retaining staff of color. Existing literature concerning non-teaching staff at community…

In October 2022, the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) dashboard reported 5,266 full-time White faculty and 714 Black faculty. Only 10% of full-time curriculum instructors were Black, whereas 82% were White (Admin, 2019). Since Black faculty are underrepresented, their voices are often unheard. This qualitative research described the…

This exploratory study sought to gain a better understanding of the nature and extent to which Black, Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) faculty at community college institutions experience racial battle fatigue. This study examined the implications of racial battle fatigue on burnout and the retention of BIPOC faculty at community college…

This research study was conducted to determine if there was a difference in community college graduation rates based on aggregate faculty hires, aggregate faculty retention and community college size. The study employed a non-experimental quantitative research design with three independent variables (aggregate faculty new hires, aggregate faculty…

Historically underserved and minoritized students are more likely to thrive when they are supported and led by diverse faculty and staff. In 2019, leaders of the country's largest higher education system, California Community Colleges, recognized wide gaps in representation: 52% of 2.1 million students identified as underrepresented minorities,…

Like employers of many stripes, community colleges are facing their own challenges with the so-called "Great Resignation," particularly in key faculty and staff roles like nursing instructors, financial aid counselors and custodians. This article describes challenges in hiring and retention in those three roles, as well as examples of…

The purpose of this qualitative, post-intentional phenomenological study was to examine and interrogate the experiences of Black women faculty surrounding promotion and tenure, wage/pay equity, and inclusivity as a reflection of race and gender equity within public two-year community colleges. Ten individuals from various community colleges in the…

Purpose: This study addressed issues of chief diversity officers who often face diversity challenges when attracting, recruiting, and retaining, faculty of color in community colleges in California. Perceptions and meaning-making of chief diversity officers were explored as they encountered racism and shaped the discourse on race embedded in the…

This study investigated the mentorship experiences of TK-12 teachers of Color (TOCs) with community college students aspiring to be teachers and how it informed their growth and development into Murrell's (2000) definition of a "community teacher." Through analysis of 15 interviews with teachers of Color involved in the Community…

This program evaluation study sought to discern if a preparation pathway offered by Texas Tech University (TTU), one that leverages community college graduates, was yielding desirable outcomes. The Teacher Education Department at Texas Tech University is committed to producing quality teachers that can immediately impact children upon entering the…

This action research project focused on teacher retention in Adult Education programs. The study was centered on new teachers in Adult Education, as defined as having less than three years of experience teaching in the field of Adult Education. The study concentrated on growing new teachers' senses of belonging, self-efficacy, and new teachers'…

The United States is facing a significant nurse educator shortage, with the National League for Nursing (2016) reporting that 28% of Associate Degree Nursing Programs (ADNP) have faculty vacancies. As a means to fill these nursing faculty shortages, colleges and universities often hire expert nurse clinicians without formalized training in higher…