The Journey Begins
Embarking on the doctoral journey has been a wonderful adventure for the doctorate of education students thus far. The academic residency provided the opportunity to form bonds with students and faculty alike that will last a lifetime. Devoting two weeks at the residency provided an optimal instructional time that enabled students to grow academically. Daytime hours integrated interaction from varying departments on campus, which promoted networking and a sense of belonging on campus. Feeling connected and knowing the resources available to utilize during this journey will enhance student success.
Problem of Practice
Successful completion of the Nursing Assistant Program at Riverland Community College is an ongoing challenge. Students are unable to reach the benchmark mandated by the Minnesota Department of Health. Unfortunately, these students cannot enter professional roles or make progress to obtain a higher degree in nursing or allied health. It is necessary to explore what students need from community colleges to be successful in the certified nursing assistant program.
Research Questions
Community colleges serve diverse student populations, which presents issues such as the best program fit for individuals and what it takes to ensure success. Many college students do not persist longer than a semester or complete programs (Goldrick-Rab, 2010). Creating a research study poses questions to address problems of student needs; however, research questions may change or evolve as the study progresses (Creswell, 2008). Three research questions aim to address the current dilemma community colleges face as they struggle with student degree completion.
RQ1: What barriers prevent community college students from successfully completing their degrees?
RQ2: What screening methodologies are instituted to ensure students enrolling in programs may achieve success and have the skill sets to pursue to completion?
R3: What resources do community colleges currently have in place to support student success, and what are considerations for other options?
References
Creswell, J.W. (2009). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Third edition. Los Angeles: SAGE.
Goldrick-Rab, S. (2010). Challenges and opportunities for improving community college student success. Review of Educational Research, 80(3), 437-469. doi: 10.3102/0034654310370163
