Counterstories of Policy Implementation: Using Reform to Address Latinx Student Equity

Examining the Undocumented College Student Policy Implementation Environment Through a Contextual Interaction Theory Lens

“…This investigation supports scholars of third-generation higher education policy implementation who argue for the examination of contextual factors to more deeply understand the complexities inherent in policy implementation (Felix & Ramirez, 2020; Grote et al, 2020; Leon & Vega, 2019; Nienhusser, 2014, 2018a). While CIT was a beneficial theory to frame this investigation, we encourage other higher education scholars to test its relevance in understanding the implementation of other higher education policies.…”

Policy implementation as a tool for advancing equity in community college

“…The higher education landscape is in dire need of a revitalized and deeper understanding of factors that shape how policies are implemented (Felix & Ramirez, 2020;Gornitzka et al, 2005;Kohoutek, 2013;Nienhusser, 2018). In this section, we argue that higher education scholars have largely neglected the study of policy implementation.…”

“…If we want to ensure policy efforts aimed at equity and moving towards eradicating equity gaps for minoritized students, there has to be a change in policy implementation. In higher education, there continues to be a paucity of policy scholars whose work focuses on how policy implementation impacts students, especially those from minoritized identities (e.g., Acevedo et al, 2015;Clotfelter et al, 2015;Felix, 2020;Felix & Ramirez, 2020;Felix et al, 2018;Gonzalez & Cataño, in press;Nienhusser, 2014Nienhusser, , 2018. Furthermore, higher education policy implementation literature often frames minoritized students through a deficit perspective or focuses on the reasoning as to why a policy did not work.…”

“…While O'Toole (2000) has argued that policy implementation research has "transmogrified" (p. 263), transformed and ever-present in disciplines, this has largely not occurred in the higher education discipline. This absence has been noted by some higher education scholars who argue for the urgency to develop policy implementation theories (Kohoutek, 2013;Viennet & Pont, 2017), understand political factors that shape implementation (McLendon, 2003), center societal inequities in implementation efforts (Ching et al, 2020;Felix & Ramirez, 2020;Nienhusser, 2018;Santelices et al, 2019), and focus on the role of policy implementers (Mapesela & Hay, 2005;Nienhusser, 2018;Viennet & Pont, 2017). This is an especially urgent call in the community college literature given the central role this institution-type has in implementing policies that can shape minoritized students' greater access to and success in postsecondary education (Cuellar & Gándara, 2020;Felix & Gonzalez, 2020).…”

Improving Racial Equity in Community College: Developing a Plan, Implementing the Vision

“…Strunk and colleagues (2016) have found that the quality of the plan (details on change efforts, listing individuals responsible for change) has a positive relationship with implementation fidelity. Other scholars note that the effectiveness of plans depends upon the skill of the planner and the capacity, experience, and willingness they possess to create a comprehensive plan for improvement (Felix & Ramirez, 2020;Nienhusser, 2018). Developing a plan sets the direction for improving institutional and student outcomes, but implementation is the long journey taken to reach that destination.…”