When examining career pathways, post-secondary institutions such as community colleges align education and training to career success, aiming to connect students to gainful employment. Career pathways support the skill needs of industries and incorporate competencies in an occupation or field represented by certificates and degrees awarded by the…

The problem addressed in this study was the trend of students completing health sciences stackable credentials not pursuing the related health sciences associate degree after completing the stackable credential, despite the availability of the streamlined pathway. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study utilizing semi-structured…

Digital competencies have become an essential skill set for most professions. The University of Delaware (UD) needs to recognize and give credit for the digital skills students bring to their graduate studies, and for digital skills learned while in graduate programs. The current structure of humanities graduate programs at UD does not offer this.…

This study used an in-depth qualitative multi-interview approach to explore the lived experience of associate in applied science (AAS) students at a community college in North Carolina. The purpose of this study is to explore the aspirations of community college students enrolled in career focused AAS programs to understand their stated goals, the…

Community colleges face enrollment declines, student performance, and accountability metrics, the need to support nontraditional students' career paths, and constraints imposed by limited resources. Community college leadership would benefit from empirical data on students with nontraditional GED credentials and the effects of remedial education…

Scholars have recommended that community colleges create degree and certificate programs to educate current and formerly incarcerated individuals. These programs are to be designed and implemented with the hopes of both aiding their reentry to society and reducing recidivism. However, research on education for returning citizens is virtually…

The purpose of this project dissertation was to research, create and assess a hypothetical two-year musical theatre/music theater (MT) curriculum to serve as a model for future implementation at community colleges. As one of the fastest growing and most prolific forms of popular entertainment today, the 21st Century musical is uniquely poised to…

Universities often serve as anchor institutions in the communities in which they exist. This role has come under increased scrutiny as higher education institutions seek to efficiently and effectively fulfill their core purposes while also increasing commitments to other values like social responsibility and community responsiveness.…

Nationwide, many students who enroll in community college programs fail to persist in postsecondary education or complete a credential. The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) Two-Year Occupational Grant Pilot Program (the Occupational Grant) was a financial aid program designed to increase persistence and completion rates through…

The diversity of higher education institutions is changing, and more post-traditional students, including those associated with the military, are engaging in higher education. Almost every post-secondary institution in the United States has military students. In 2020, $11.5 billion was spent on over 875,000 eligible military students. Military…

The purpose of this evaluation was to provide descriptive feedback to assist coordinators of the Alabama Community College System's (ACCS) outcome-based funding (OBF) model in conducting a formative needs assessment. Employing a quasi-experimental design, this evaluation utilized both the CIPP decision-oriented and Stake's participant-oriented…

A 2009 federal call to action seeking to improve postsecondary outcomes was largely underscored by a financial recession that continues to have lasting effects on state funding for public postsecondary education. In an effort to improve efficiency while also growing the number of postsecondary completers, states began adopting performance…

By 2025, the majority of "jobs in the United States will require postsecondary education and training beyond high school" (Lumina Foundation, n.d., p. 9). Earning college credit in high school, at times earning a postsecondary degree or credential simultaneously while working toward a high school diploma, presents an opportunity for…

The majority of students enroll in community college with the intention of earning a college certificate, diploma, or degree that will offer them access to better employment opportunities that pay a higher living wage. However, the number of college students who place into developmental mathematics far exceeds the number of students in other areas…

This dissertation consists of three empirical studies that explore the educational experiences and trajectories of English learners (ELs) and students with disabilities. The first study uses longitudinal data from four large California school districts to examine the characteristics of long-term ELs (LTELs) and former ELs--those reclassified as…