Research to Action
Our Research
Our research efforts to institute systemic change centers on a transition from the more traditional approaches – which are often jargon-laden and slow to reach decision-makers — to modes of scholarship that are timely, accessible and digestible. The research we conduct addresses community college practitioner needs and provides actionable data that leaders can use to make informed improvements at their institutions. Further, the broader practice-focused research agenda we develop dovetails with continuous institutional improvement efforts at North Carolina community colleges. Our current body of research focuses on key areas:
Finish Line Grants
In September 2019, we co-hosted the Finish Line Grants Symposium program. The support the implementation of a program is designed to provide emergency aid to community college students facing financial challenges.
CARES Act
We examine NC Community Colleges’ processes for using the CARES Act student emergency funds. Current reports:
International Education
We conduct research exploring the types of international education programs and experiences happening at community colleges. Current reports:
Transfer is vital to ensuring the state of North Carolina meets in the statewide attainment goal to increase the number of North Carolinians with credentials. Our research is focused on the experiences and outcomes of students earning credits at North Carolina community colleges and how those credits are transfer into 4-year institutions. We look a policies such as Career and College Promise, a policy that allows high schools students to earn credit while in high school as well as the impact of articulation agreements, such as the comprehensive articulation agreement.
Along with our research we are also supporting Transfer Working Groups made up of representatives from the NCCCS, UNC System, the Transfer Advisory Committee, and other key stakeholders around transfer in the state to improve the experience of transfer for students. The groups met for the first time in fall of 2020 and will be sharing more details about their priorities in the upcoming months.
Briefs & Reports:
- The Role of North Carolina’s Comprehensive Articulation Agreement in Transfer Efficiency (October 2020)
- Baccalaureate Degree Completion in North Carolina: Through a Dual Enrollment Pathway (October 2020)
- The Relationship Between Participation in Career and College Promise and Community College Attainment (December 2020)
- College and Career Promise Leading to Transfer Outcomes: A Regression Discontinuity Analysis(December 2020)
Reports: