Phi Theta Kappa Publishes Community College Research Journal
Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (PTK) has published academic research conducted by students at 18 colleges in Civic Scholar: Phi Theta Kappa Journal of Undergraduate Research.
The full journal is available here and is made possible by support from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation.
Civic Scholar features 18 research projects by high-achieving community college students across the country on a wide range of topics, including “Progress in Mental Health Treatment” and “Racial Disparities in Perceptions Toward Flu and HPV Vaccinations.” Despite the many challenges students faced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were 400 submissions for the fourth edition of Civic Scholar.
“We all know the key to success in college is driven by student engagement,” PTK President and CEO Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner said. “These 18 projects are the very best examples of how students apply innovative research and take meaningful action on the issues they care about most on their campuses and in their communities.
“We are proud to showcase their good and important work, and we are grateful to the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation for helping us share this work with others.”
Research was conducted as part of Phi Theta Kappa’s honors program, Honors in Action, and based on the topic, To the Seventh Generation: Inheritance and Legacy. The works published in Civic Scholar include both substantive research and community engagement — chapters ultimately turned their research into action by using their findings to meet specific community needs.
“In publishing this journal, we hope to demonstrate something we have always known to be true: community college students are innovative scholars,” said Dr. Blake Ellis, PTK’s Chief Engagement Officer. “They are conducting research that matters, drawing conclusions that reshape our understanding of the world, and taking action that leaves a lasting impact.”
Phi Theta Kappa chapters from the following colleges are featured in the 2021 issue of Civic Scholar:
- Bergen Community College, New Jersey
- Calhoun Community College, Decatur Campus, Alabama
- Fashion Institute of Technology, New York
- Feather River College, California
- Grayson College, Texas
- Horry-Georgetown Technical College, Conway Campus, South Carolina
- Houston Community College, Texas
- Jefferson State Community College, Shelby-Hoover Campus, Alabama
- Labette Community College, Kansas
- Mid Michigan College, Harrison Campus, Michigan
- Monroe Community College, Brighton Campus, New York
- National Park College, Arkansas
- Northeast State Community College, Blountville Campus, Tennessee
- Northwestern Michigan College, Michigan
- Onondaga Community College, New York
- Passaic County Community College, Paterson Campus, New Jersey
- Redlands Community College, El Reno Campus, Oklahoma
- Western Iowa Tech Community College, Iowa
Phi Theta Kappa is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The Society is made up of more than 3.5 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 10 countries, with approximately 240,000 active members in the nation’s colleges. Learn more at ptk.org.