American community colleges are typically public 2-year higher education institutions with a history and mission of providing educational access to the people in the communities in which they are located and serve. Nationally community colleges continue to become more diverse, providing increased access especially for the socioeconomically…

A qualitative descriptive key-case study focusing on the perceptions of women in leadership regarding organizational conflict with managers, subordinates, and peers was conducted. The study examined how women leaders deal with conflict in higher education settings. A dual concern theory (DCT) framework was employed to study women's perceptions of…

Communities continue to establish, promote, and monitor the educational outcomes of their citizenry through both explicit and implied norms. Community attributes influence the pursuit of education and level of education completed by individual citizens. The influencers within communities can be attributed to common constructs of communities…

The purpose of this study was to understand how resources in the community impact rural single mothers' access, participation, and success in higher education. In particular, this study focused on how rural single mothers' community ties impact their social capital resources and perception of agency and achievement in pursuing higher education.…

This practicum reviews the history of community influences on the teaching, research, and service functions of higher education in America. It discusses the role of major social institutions on higher education policy and curriculum in carrying out these three major functions. The study reveals a major shift of influence from church to business,…

Reexamines the origins of America's community colleges to include the leadership contributions of local residents, members of civic associations, and elected school trustees. These new histories will emphasize the influence of broad national forces such as industrialization and egalitarianism in stimulating student demand and public support for…

Focuses on two aspects of governance and policy: the electoral process by which community college trustees are selected and the responsiveness of colleges to their communities as manifested by their programs. Available from Journal of Politics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611. (Author/IRT)

Responses of 120 elementary school, middle school, high school, and community college teachers support the notion that the nature of the organization in which one works as well as the surrounding community are major influences on the extent to which educator plateauing (feelings of stagnation and sameness) is experienced. (SLD)

To develop a new mission statement for Pima Community College (PCC) in Tucson, Arizona, a "charrette" process was utilized, in which detailed community input was solicited and incorporated as part of the mission statement development. Approximately 100 representatives of the greater Tucson community, together with PCC staff, developed…

Appropriate and inappropriate uses of the strategic planning concept are identified, and significant literature on the subject is reviewed that gives both conceptual and practical guidelines. Included is a series of very simple to more complex planning models that colleges and universities can adopt or modify, depending on their circumstances, to…

Discussions about the social responsibility of businesses have led to questions about the social responsibility of academic institutions. As governmental support of community activities appears to be lessening, activities by educational institutions in support of local communities becomes more essential. New developments in the linkage between…

Presents a study of low educational interest and participation area. Quoting from ethnographic interviews, discusses the influences of family, schools, and community on educational decisions. Describes plans to increase public awareness, and develop new curricula and intervention strategies. (DMM)

To examine the relationship between school and community characteristics and the transfer of black students from two- to four-year colleges, a study was conducted of black transfer rates and institutional characteristics at 53 colleges in North Carolina. Transfer data were obtained from the National Center for Academic Achievement and Transfer and…

In an effort to determine external and internal reasons for program, course, enrollment, and instructional differences in the strength of the humanities curriculum at two-year colleges, 20 colleges representing a variety of sizes, geographic locations, means of control, and program emphases were selected for site visits. Interviews revealed that…