2023 chapter book
Achieving Equity at Rural Community Colleges
Using a theoretical framework based on equity-mindedness and the diversity, equity, and inclusion framework advocated by the American Association of Community Colleges, this chapter provides evidence of exemplary practices other rural community colleges can use to help reduce equity gaps. Using findings across three equity case studies, we offer advice for rural community college leaders and policymakers on ways to attend to equity gaps in the rural community college sector. The chapter focuses on a set of case studies of three rural community colleges in North Carolina to help address the gap in the literature. It includes an overview of the following topics: ambiguity in defining rural community colleges, portrait of rural community colleges, equity in rural community colleges, and unique challenges and opportunities. To study equity on various rural community college campuses, they employed a multi-sited qualitative exploratory case study design.