Sponsor
Portland State University. Department of Educational Leadership and Policy
First Advisor
Heather Burns
Term of Graduation
Summer 2023
Date of Publication
8-2-2023
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership: Postsecondary Education
Department
Educational Leadership and Policy
Language
English
Subjects
Community Colleges, Employee Recruitment, Employee Retention, Grounded Theory, Racial Staff Diversity
DOI
10.15760/etd.3640
Physical Description
1 online resource (vii, 224 pages)
Abstract
This dissertation examines the troubling underrepresentation of staff of color in Pacific Northwest community colleges. Despite the proven benefits of racial staff diversity in promoting student success, community colleges face challenges in recruiting and retaining staff of color. Existing literature concerning non-teaching staff at community colleges is limited. This study adds to the existing literature by investigating the experiences and perceptions of staff of color in Pacific Northwest community colleges to identify effective strategies for increasing racial staff diversity.
This study used a constructivist grounded theory approach in a comprehensive data collection process involving surveys, individual and focus group interviews, and memo writing. The rigorous data analysis process identified four primary themes as critical factors for staff of color retention: organizational culture and leadership, cultural competence and belonging, community and support, and professional growth and equitable practice.
These findings are the foundation for the emergent theoretical framework, the "Double Dutch Retention," which offers strategies for increasing racial staff diversity at Pacific Northwest community colleges. While the study focuses on Pacific Northwest community college staff of color, its insights shed light on the performative nature of diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments in higher education.
Rights
© 2023 Dominique S. Austin
In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/40823
Recommended Citation
Austin, Dominique S., "The Double Dutch Retention Framework: A Grounded Theory Study on Increasing Racial Staff Diversity at Pacific Northwest Community Colleges" (2023). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 6504.
https://doi.org/10.15760/etd.3640