Urban versus Rural: Part-Time Enrollment.

The researchers examined part-time enrollment within public two-year, degree-granting community colleges by the degree of urbanization classifications of city, suburban, town, and rural for fall 2003 and 2005. Findings indicate no statistical differences in part-time enrollment between city and suburban institutions. No statistical differences were identified between town and rural institutions. City and suburban institutions were found to have statistically higher percentages of part-time enrollment than their town and rural counterparts. No statistical changes in percentages of part-time enrollment were identified when comparing fall 2003 and 2005. Implications of these findings are discussed. Suggestions for future research are identified. Introduction and review of literature Part-time student enrollment continues to test community colleges as they struggle to meet the divergent needs of these numerous educational consumers. Part-time students uniquely differ from their full-time counterparts in many respects and require differing approaches to programming. Chen and Carroll (2007) indicate that part-time students tend to be older, female, Hispanic, married, and financially independent. These researchers also found that part-time students are more likely to be disadvantaged in their academic backgrounds and are highly concentrated in public two-year institutions. Part-time students are furthermore identified with a higher priority placed on work than education and a greater risk for not persisting to degree completion. McHewitt (1993) found significant differences in graduation rates among Virginia Community College institutions. While age, race, and gender were related to receiving an award (i.e., certificate, diploma, or associate degree), these demographics were not as strongly related as the program selected, college location, and student course load. The study revealed that students who initially enrolled full-time are five times more likely to graduate than part-time students. As public two-year colleges struggle to address challenges, they are also encumbered with a host of funding issues related to the institution's degree of urbanization or the lack thereof. National research relating funding structures to institutional degree of urbanization is seriously lacking. However, limited studies have been conducted in a few states such as Texas and California. Waller, Flannery, Adams, Bowen, Norvell, Sherman, et. al. (2007) declared that recent decreases in state appropriations in Texas may serve to reclassify public community colleges as state-assisted instead of state-supported. The researchers found that decreases in state appropriations in the LoneStar State have generated subsequent increases in ad valorem property taxes. Rural institutions and urban institutions were found to hold differing capabilities for the generation of tax revenue thus placing rural colleges at a disadvantage in adjusting to the changing financial environment. The researchers voiced concern over continued access to higher education for many of the most disfranchised segments of the Texas population. The California Postsecondary Education Commission (2006) has acknowledged three major issues affecting California community colleges in rural and remote areas: (1) diverse student needs, including distance learning; (2) funding differences between urban and rural community colleges, with rural colleges receiving less funding and more legislative funding cuts; and (3) restrictive administrative policies that limit rural community colleges from expanding their programs. Glover, Simpson, and Waller (2007) have indicated that Texas rural community colleges offer lower faculty salaries than their urban counterparts. The researchers voiced concern that lower salaries potentially limit the ability of rural institutions to attract and retain skilled faculty members. Dowd (2004) has found that colleges with a higher percentage of students availing themselves of financial aid have a higher per student income. …