Full metadata
Title
When isomorphism fails: structural barriers to a community college honors program
Description
The number of community college honors programs has significantly increased since the 1980s. This study analyzes qualitative data collected from employee, student, and faculty participants associated with a community college honors program in the western United States during the months of April 2011 and January-March 2012. Using a theoretical framework derived from literature on Institutional Isomorphism and Academic Capitalism, this work explores the motivations behind the creation of a community college honors program, the implementation of the program, and the program's effects on the micro-level experiences of those affiliated. The data analysis reveals that the motivations for the incorporation and continuation of the Honors Program are driven by hopes of improving the college's reputation and attracting new funding sources for its academic programs. These findings are consistent with arguments about Institutional Isomorphism and Academic Capitalism. However, consistent with literature on program implementation, I identified barriers in the form of staff and student perceptions that impede Honor's program conformity to ideal standards. I refer to this finding as "incomplete isomorphism."
Date Created
2012
Contributors
- Huntsinger, Marie T (Author)
- Jurik, Nancy C. (Thesis advisor)
- Adams, Jimi (Committee member)
- Hesse, Maria L. (Committee member)
- Arizona State University (Publisher)
Topical Subject
- Organization Theory
- Sociology Of Education
- Education (Higher)
- academic capitalism
- Community Colleges
- honors programs
- implementation
- incomplete isomporphism
- instiutional isomorphism
- Community colleges--Honors courses--Southwest, New--Case studies.
- Community Colleges
- Community colleges--Southwest, New--Administration--Case studies.
- Community Colleges
- Community colleges--Southwest, New--Finance--Case studies.
- Community Colleges
- Community college students--Southwest, New--Attitudes--Case studies.
- Community college students
- Community colleges--Southwest, New--Employees--Attitudes--Case studies.
- Community Colleges
Resource Type
Extent
iv, 90 p
Language
Copyright Statement
In Copyright
Primary Member of
Peer-reviewed
No
Open Access
No
Handle
https://hdl.handle.net/2286/R.I.15020
Statement of Responsibility
by Marie T. Huntsinger
Level of coding
full
Note
Partial requirement for: M.A., Arizona State University, 2012
Note type
thesis
Includes bibliographical references (p. 76-79)
Note type
bibliography
Field of study: Sociology
System Created
- 2012-08-24 06:28:09
System Modified
- 2021-08-30 01:46:06
- 2 years 8 months ago
Additional Formats