This book highlights the pivotal role that engineering education researchers can play at technical universities. By delving into both theoretical and practical aspects, it showcases the transformative potential of integrating rigorous educational research into technical education. The book begins by outlining the current landscape of engineering…

Like other postsecondary educators, community college faculty face challenges from conservative politicians seeking to eliminate equity perspectives in college teaching and educational stakeholders who overapply the label of equity, rendering it devoid of meaning. Through a content analysis of literacy class-focused equity practices from recent…

Community College Written Communication 1 (ENC) instructors encounter complex challenges when attempting to teach writing skills to diverse student populations. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to explore the perceptions of full-time community college ENC faculty and determine the instructional strategies they use to…

The aim of this dissertation is to inform policy makers when designing and making decisions on performance measure and performance-based funding models. While performance measures are designed to incent and inform college efforts to increase levels of student success, many of the models unfairly assess college outcomes and fund based on those…

This qualitative phenomenological study thoroughly examines an art collective network within Mississippi's community colleges, specifically focusing on enhancing career preparation for students seeking opportunities in the entertainment industry. Through semi-structured interviews, this study gathered data from a purposive sample of six current…

How community colleges educate students is an ever-changing proposition, one marked by an increasing number of unfilled leadership positions and an operational landscape even more reliant on labor market outcomes, learning, equity and completion. A growing number of senior leaders approaching retirement has created a wealth of career opportunities…

Today's nursing students need to be knowledgeable, engage in superior nursing skills, and learn the art of patient communication to give patients the best care. This qualitative case study addresses nursing students, their exercises that influence communication skills in the simulation laboratory, nursing and communication educators and the…

Since the George Floyd murder in 2020 and Black Lives Matter campaign, there has been increased interest among evaluators and PIs in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in their projects and evaluations. Our previous research showed a lack of clarity in understanding the distinction between the terms in practice and desire to engage with these…

Most community college (CC) students nationwide aspire to transfer from CC to a 4-year baccalaureate granting institution, yet most students who aspire to transfer never achieve this goal. Cross-enrollment, facilitated enrollment in a course at a four-year college while simultaneously enrolled in classes at a CC, is one policy that may increase…

The addressed question from the interface between theory and teaching practice of constructivism is discussed at the background of whereabouts of the Common Core (CCSS-M) constructivist-based mathematics curriculum. It concerns the formulation of constructivist methodology of teaching, whose existence is called in doubts by US constructivist…

Published annually since 1985, the Handbook series provides a compendium of thorough and integrative literature reviews on a diverse array of topics of interest to the higher education scholarly and policy communities. Each chapter provides a comprehensive review of research findings on a selected topic, critiques the research literature in terms…

A college degree is vital to the economic and social well-being of the entire nation and its citizens. Yet, community colleges--which serve half of all students in higher education--have low graduation rates. Lack of academic preparation, competing personal and work demands, and economic stress make earning a degree difficult for many. As part of…

Using India as an example, the authors of this chapter provide background for connecting theory and practice for international community colleges.

Due to fragmented and misaligned segments of public education, many students lack access to educational opportunities that will ensure their success in college and career. This problem is one that may only be solved through better alignment and coordination between high school and college, between systems of higher education, and between education…

High-quality early childhood education (ECE) begins with well-prepared, highly qualified educators. This brief offers practitioners and policymakers an opportunity to learn from promising programs that recruit and prepare racially, ethnically, culturally, and linguistically diverse cohorts of educators to teach in programs serving children birth…