Abstracts

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of students, administrators, and faculty of one community college on the factors that facilitate or inhibit collegiate student success toward associate degree completion. Degree completion was defined as graduating with an associate degree. The following research questions guided this study: 1) What support systems or resources are in place at the community college to assist students with degree completion? 2) What factors in the college student success course at this community college facilitate or inhibit successful degree completion? The case study was conducted in a single community college inNorth Carolina. Participants included 10 community college professionals and 5 students. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews and then transcribed. Pseudonyms were used to maintain participant anonymity. The data were analyzed through the process of coding. Findings identified eight themes in relation to facilitating and inhibiting degree completion at the community college level. These themes were: (a) curriculum, (b) advising, (c) support services, (d) relationships, (e) faculty status, (f) intrinsic motivation, (g) developmental courses, and (h) external factors. Conclusions of the research study and recommendations for further research were determined.