SPRING 2018 - VOLUME 25, ISSUE 1

Interrelationships between Funding and State Community College Governance Systems

Jeffrey A. Fletcher, Iowa State University
Janice Nahra Friedel, Iowa State University

This article covers research and preliminary findings that investigated relationships between state-level community college governance systems, state funding distribution formulae, and revenue resource funds. Community colleges (CC) will continue to be unique higher education institutions serving a wide variety of needs for the communities they serve and were established to make higher education accessible to the populace. One significant finding is that states with no centralized community college coordinating/governing board are highest on average for revenues from tuition and fees. Another discovery is that statistically significant relationships exist between state-level CC governance system structures and state funding distribution formulae.

Keywords: finance; community colleges; taxonomy; research

Fletcher, J. A., & Friedel, J. N. (2018). Interrelationships between funding and state community college governance systems. Journal of Applied Research in the Community College, 25(1), 1-15.

Examining Predictors of Faculty-Student Engagement Inside and Outside the Classroom for Southeast Asian American Men in Community College

Melissa Vang, San Diego State University

The purpose of this study was to explore the predictability of faculty-student engagement inside and outside the classroom for Southeast Asian American men in community college. Southeast Asian American students are often misunderstood through the model minority stereotype believing that Asian American students excel through post-secondary education without institutional support. This study contributes to the limited literature on Southeast Asian American students, more specifically, concentrated at the two-year colleges. Data were collected from the Community College Success Measure and delimited to 140 men who identified as Southeast Asian American using stepwise regression. Results from the analysis suggested that primary goal and student’s level of comfortability in asking for help were significant predictors in this study.

Keywords: Southeast Asian American; faculty-student engagement; community college

Vang, M. (2018). Examining predictors of faculty-student engagement inside and outside the classroom for Southeast Asian American men in community college. Journal of Applied Research in the Community College, 25(1), 17-26.

The Missing Link: An Exploration of the Relationship Between Civic Engagement and Grade Point Average

Mallory Newell, De Anza College
Sonali Saxena, Analytic Focus

This study explores the relationship between the civic engagement of community college students and their cumulative grade point average (GPA). Prior research has focused on differences in civic engagement between two- and four-year students and graduates, yet few studies have connected civic engagement to academic performance within community colleges. This study showed that engagement in certain civic engagement activities, civic knowledge, and an increase in civic agency resulted in incremental gains in students’ GPAs. These findings are important to the civic engagement agenda at community colleges. By focusing on the development of students’ civic skills, community colleges may not only experience an increase in students’ ability to be engaged within their community, but they may also see an increase in students’ academic success.

Keywords: civic engagement; community college; student engagement; community engagement

Newell, M., & Saxena, S. (2018). The missing link: An exploration of the relationship between civic engagement and grade point average. Journal of Applied Research in the Community College, 25(1), 27-44.

Engaging International Students at Community Colleges: Understanding the Role of Institutional Support Structures

Hugo A. García, Texas Tech University
Jon McNaughtan, Texas Tech University
Dustin Eicke, Texas Tech University
Xinyang Li, Texas Tech University
Michelle Leong, Texas Tech University
Tamara McClain, Texas Tech University

This study seeks to provide an understanding of the organizational support structures that are associated with international student engagement and satisfaction. Using structural equation modeling, we compare the relationships between key latent constructs to identify areas where community colleges can better support their growing population of international students.

Keywords: international; student; community college

García, H. A., McNaughtan, J., Eicke, D., Li, X., Leong, M., & McClain, T. (2018). Engaging international students at community colleges: Understanding the role of institutional support structures. Journal of Applied Research in the Community College, 25(1), 45-60.

Experiences with Housing Insecurity Among African American Women in Community College

Darielle Blevins, San Diego State University

This study sought to understand the extent to which external factors and the presence of insecurity predicts housing insecurities for African American women in community colleges. Data were derived from the Community College Success Measure’s Stressful Life Events Scale. Findings indicated the presence of food insecurity and challenges with transportation are strong predictors of housing insecurity for African-American women in community colleges. This brief provides recommendations for community college leaders in addressing the needs of African American women facing housing insecurities.

Keywords: housing insecurity; African American women; community college

Blevins, D. (2018). Experiences with housing insecurity among African American women in community college. Journal of Applied Research in the Community College, 25(1), 616-8.