Date of Award

Fall 9-7-2022

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Organizational Leadership

First Advisor

Phillip Pendley

Second Advisor

Marylou Wilson

Third Advisor

Scott Conrad

Abstract

Purpose. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine what relationship exists between equity fund spending and the student success measures of graduation rates, associate degrees and certificates awarded, and transfers completed by African American students in single college community college districts in California.

Methodology. This study employed a quantitative research design using archival data. Correlation and regression analysis was performed to determine the relationship between funding and student success outcomes. The study population was the California community college (CCC) system, and the sample was 49 single college districts.

Findings: As expected, funding was positively correlated with total number of students, including the number of African American students. In some years, funding also correlated to success measures, although the strongest correlation existed between the number of African American students and the number of degrees and certificates awarded to African American students. Similar results were found for the regression analysis.

Conclusions: The data revealed relationships between funding and total student enrollment, as well as between the number of African American students and success metrics for African American students. As expected, the number of success metrics attained by African American students increased with the number of African American pupils. This was supported by the regression analysis, which revealed the number of African American students was the most significant predictor of African American students’ degrees, certificates, and transfers. Funding, however, did not provide significant forecasts of student success.

Recommendations: Institutions should evaluate the outcomes of each state-funded activity in light of student group needs to determine the success of each activity. These activities must cover the social, emotional, economic, and psychological aspects of each group and extend beyond on-campus activities. Also, as the number of enrolled African American students had the strongest association to their success, funding should be allocated for outreach and recruitment of African American students. Efforts to increase the number of African American students enrolled in a school should be coupled with a greater emphasis on educating faculty in culturally relevant pedagogy to further improve outcomes.

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