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How Community College Students Choose a Program of Study: Faculty and Staff Perspectives. Research Brief

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Title: How Community College Students Choose a Program of Study: Faculty and Staff Perspectives. Research Brief
Language: English
Authors: Serena C. Klempin, Maggie P. Fay, Akilah H. Thompson, Estefanie Aguilar Padilla, Kaylee Converse, Columbia University, Community College Research Center (CCRC)
Source: Community College Research Center, Teachers College, Columbia University. 2025.
Availability: Community College Research Center. Available from: CCRC Publications. Teachers College, Columbia University, 525 West 120th Street Box 174, New York, NY 10027. Tel: 212-678-3091; Fax: 212-678-3699; e-mail: ccrc@columbia.edu; Web site: http://ccrc.tc.columbia.edu/
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 12
Publication Date: 2025
Sponsoring Agency: Ascendium Education Group, Inc.
Document Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Two Year Colleges
Descriptors: Community College Students, Majors (Students), Decision Making, College Faculty, Community Colleges, School Personnel, Attitudes, Experience, College Role, Barriers, Career Choice, Career Exploration, Academic Advising, Teacher Role
Geographic Terms: California, Maryland, Ohio, Texas
Abstract: Community colleges' initial engagement with students has traditionally focused on orientation to the college and the provision of information about administrative policies and procedures. Yet, as part of whole-college reform efforts, a growing number of community colleges are adopting new onboarding practices to better introduce students to available programs and related career pathways and to help students weigh their own interests and strengths in choosing an academic and career path. This brief describes findings from faculty and staff interviews at four colleges (in California, Maryland, Ohio, and Texas) about students' experiences exploring and selecting a program of study. As people who interact a great deal with students and who are knowledgeable about program and career options, faculty members, advisors, career counselors, and other student services staff are an integral part of onboarding. Their perceptions provide valuable insights into how students experience the program choice process and what colleges can do to support that process. The authors discuss findings from the interviews in three key areas: the types of supports colleges offer related to program and career exploration, barriers students face in the program choice process, and challenges colleges face in facilitating program choice. They conclude with implications for improving supports to help students explore and select a program.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: ED678725
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
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  Data: How Community College Students Choose a Program of Study: Faculty and Staff Perspectives. Research Brief
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  Data: Community College Research Center. Available from: CCRC Publications. Teachers College, Columbia University, 525 West 120th Street Box 174, New York, NY 10027. Tel: 212-678-3091; Fax: 212-678-3699; e-mail: ccrc@columbia.edu; Web site: http://ccrc.tc.columbia.edu/
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Community+College+Students%22">Community College Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Majors+%28Students%29%22">Majors (Students)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Decision+Making%22">Decision Making</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Faculty%22">College Faculty</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Community+Colleges%22">Community Colleges</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Personnel%22">School Personnel</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Attitudes%22">Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Experience%22">Experience</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Role%22">College Role</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Barriers%22">Barriers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Career+Choice%22">Career Choice</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Career+Exploration%22">Career Exploration</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academic+Advising%22">Academic Advising</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Role%22">Teacher Role</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22California%22">California</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Maryland%22">Maryland</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ohio%22">Ohio</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Texas%22">Texas</searchLink>
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  Data: Community colleges' initial engagement with students has traditionally focused on orientation to the college and the provision of information about administrative policies and procedures. Yet, as part of whole-college reform efforts, a growing number of community colleges are adopting new onboarding practices to better introduce students to available programs and related career pathways and to help students weigh their own interests and strengths in choosing an academic and career path. This brief describes findings from faculty and staff interviews at four colleges (in California, Maryland, Ohio, and Texas) about students' experiences exploring and selecting a program of study. As people who interact a great deal with students and who are knowledgeable about program and career options, faculty members, advisors, career counselors, and other student services staff are an integral part of onboarding. Their perceptions provide valuable insights into how students experience the program choice process and what colleges can do to support that process. The authors discuss findings from the interviews in three key areas: the types of supports colleges offer related to program and career exploration, barriers students face in the program choice process, and challenges colleges face in facilitating program choice. They conclude with implications for improving supports to help students explore and select a program.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: ED678725
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      – Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 12
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Community College Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Majors (Students)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Decision Making
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Faculty
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      – SubjectFull: Community Colleges
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      – SubjectFull: School Personnel
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      – SubjectFull: Attitudes
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      – SubjectFull: Experience
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      – SubjectFull: College Role
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      – SubjectFull: Barriers
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      – SubjectFull: Career Choice
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Career Exploration
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Academic Advising
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teacher Role
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      – SubjectFull: California
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Maryland
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ohio
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Texas
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: How Community College Students Choose a Program of Study: Faculty and Staff Perspectives. Research Brief
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              Y: 2025
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