Instructional Leaders' Perceptions of the Impact of AB 1725 on Faculty Hiring in California Community Colleges

The purpose of this study was to analyze how administrators and faculty leaders perceive the impact of AB 1725 on faculty hiring in California community colleges. Employing a qualitative case study approach, this research presented the findings from interviews and document analysis for the cases included in this effort. Four California community colleges (CCCs) were chosen for this study; they were selected based on their differing, but representative, CCC characteristics to encompass a range of participant perspectives. Institutions were purposefully chosen to include two sites within the same multi-college district; a small, rural site; and a large, urban, single-district site; the chief instructional officer and academic senate president (or designee) were interviewed at each of the colleges in the study. Interviews and document analysis produced several themes related to how the instructional administrators and faculty leaders at the four case-study sites perceived the 75/25 mandate. Seven cross-case themes emerged from the data. Participants expressed an understanding of the 75/25 ratio that generally aligned with the language of the mandate. However, in light of their observations regarding the inconsistent enforcement of the mandate, participants viewed 75/25 as an ideal rather than a rule. Additionally, while it might seem that a plan or directive for meeting 75/25 would promote progress toward the ratio levels, the participants from the only site that had reportedly achieved the mandated levels indicated the absence of a plan. When asked about the obstacles to compliance, participants most often cited fiscal constraints as the main hurdle to successfully meeting the 75/25 rule. Finally, most participants expressed little awareness of the progress of the 75/25 mandate within the CCC system. The results of this research may be used to reassess the full- to part-time hiring ratio. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]