Author ORCID Identifier:
Date of Graduation
8-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education in Adult and Lifelong Learning (EdD)
Degree Level
Graduate
Department
Counseling, Leadership, and Research Methods
Advisor/Mentor
Grover, Kenda
Committee Member
Avery, Celeste
Second Committee Member
Kacirek, Kit
Keywords
community college; DEI; discretion; diversity; policy; state legislation
Abstract
This qualitative case study explores how community college administrators navigate the complex and politically charged landscape of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policy implementation in the face of evolving state legislation. Grounded in Michael Lipsky’s theory of Street-Level Bureaucracy, the research examines how mid- to senior-level administrators perceive their interpretations, mediations, and actions on DEI mandates in contexts where such policies are contested or pressured. Using semi-structured interviews with administrators across multiple community colleges, the study investigates the tension between institutional commitment to DEI values and the necessity to comply with external political and legal directives. The study contributes to the literature on higher education governance, state policymaking and administrative discretion, offering implications for how colleges can maintain inclusive practices under the strain of increasing political polarization and policy rollback.
Citation
Birth, C. (2025). Between Compliance and Commitment: Community College Administrators and the Politics of DEI Policy Implementation. Graduate Theses and Dissertations Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/5928
