A cursory review of scholarly articles concerning community colleges will undoubtedly result in references to the ''cooling out'' function of academic advising. This theory remains among one of the most cited critiques of these institutions to date. Many scholars have debated the accuracy of the assertion, arguing that community college advisors…

This qualitative dissertation explored the challenges faced by African American students in a Career and Technical Education (CTE) Hospitality Program at a Historically Black Community College (HBCC) in Alabama. Framed by Social-Identity Theory, Critical Race Theory, and the Inclusive Excellence Framework, the study addressed the…

Public Agenda surveyed Illinois residents to learn about how they view public higher education and what would help it serve them and the state better. Three research briefs highlight key findings from the broader survey findings. This brief finds that 46% of Illinois residents do not have a post-secondary credential and are not currently enrolled…

Community college students need access to comprehensive reproductive health care to support them in achieving both their educational and reproductive goals. This brief highlights barriers to contraceptive access among young people attending community college and outlines policies and programs that can support access. Drawing on data from a…

The robust body of literature on the benefits of tutoring services clearly indicates a strong correlation between tutoring and student success. The students who most need tutoring, however, are least likely to utilize it. Because of this challenge, a writing center serving a medium-sized Midwestern community college explored how implementing…

Objective/Research Question: Many localities have implemented promise programs, which cover tuition for students to attend college based on residency criteria. These "free college" programs have been shown to increase student enrollment, creating the need for additional institutional resources to support student graduation. We analyzed…

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted community colleges and created a new context in which they were forced to operate. Faculty, especially those who normally taught in-person, were required to transition quickly to fully online classrooms. Drawing on semi-structured interviews conducted at the start of the pandemic with 17 students pursuing degree…

In this paper, the authors study a proposition in California that weakened the constraints on some local governments by lowering the vote share required to approve capital funding for schools and community colleges. The study uses a difference-in-differences design around this policy change and data for over 4,000 local elections across the state…

After Hurricane Helene, community colleges in Western North Carolina grappled with limited digital access which resulted in the under-utilization of newly launched initiatives like Foothills Facilitating an Occupation Ready Workforce by Addressing Regional Demands (FORWARD), which was funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Rural…

Community college students must navigate complex financial aid policies and procedures to obtain their aid award. In this study, I investigated how Students of Color at a community college experience financial aid disbursements. Through qualitative interviews, I found that community colleges disburse aid to students through a process I define as…

The enclosed materials contain fiscal year 2024 (July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024) responses from Illinois' public Community College System to the "African American Employment Plan Survey" (Public Act 096-1341). The legislation requests that each community college provide an annual assessment of strategies and progress in the hiring…

The enclosed materials contain fiscal year 2024 (July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024) responses from Illinois' public Community College System to the "Asian American Employment Plan Survey" (Public Act 097-0856). The legislation requests that each community college provide an annual assessment of strategies and progress in the hiring and…

The enclosed materials contain fiscal year 2024 (July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024) responses from Illinois' public Community College System to the "Hispanic Employment Plan Survey and the Bilingual Needs and Bilingual Pay Survey" (Public Act 096-1286). The legislation asks that each community college provide an annual assessment of…

For the many community college students hoping to transfer to a four-year university, the transfer process can be a complex labyrinth of hurdles and barriers that narrows the path to bachelor's degree programs, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. This report analyzes the role math plays in California…

Apprenticeships have recently gained renewed attention as an effective means to prepare individuals for the world of work even though this method of instruction dates back to 1937 with the passage of the National Apprenticeship Act. An even more recent development is the growth of degree apprenticeships, the aligning of postsecondary degree…