Date of Award

Summer 8-2010

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Educational Studies and Research

Committee Chair

Willie Pierce

Committee Chair Department

Educational Studies and Research

Committee Member 2

Amy Townsend

Committee Member 2 Department

Educational Studies and Research

Committee Member 3

Debra Gentry

Committee Member 3 Department

Educational Studies and Research

Committee Member 4

Richard Mohn

Committee Member 4 Department

Educational Studies and Research

Abstract

This study involved assessing the professional and personal opinions of Mississippi community college students, faculty and administrators regarding the need for community college baccalaureate degree programs in Mississippi. The goal of this study was to determine if students, faculty and administrators at Mississippi community colleges believed that the implementation of baccalaureate degree programs at their respective colleges would be beneficial to the college and to the students. Furthermore, this study sought to determine if the opinions of said participants regarding the implementation of baccalaureate degree programs were affected by certain factors. Students, faculty and administrators from each of the 15 community colleges in Mississippi (as well as their associated branch campuses) were invited to participate in the survey process.

A majority of the students, faculty and administrators surveyed reported a need for community college baccalaureate degree programs. However, a majority of the individuals surveyed also believed that students could obtain baccalaureate degrees whether their local community colleges offered them or not. Furthermore, many of the factors examined did not have a significant effect on reported need. Nontraditional students, first generation students and students with family responsibilities, as well as female employees, had a significant effect on reported need in a positive direction. Employees listed in the “other” race category also had a significant effect on reported need, but in a negative direction.

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