Peter Riley Bahr

Peter Riley Bahr

Associate Professor, Marsal Family School of Education

Contact

prbahr@umich.edu

(734) 647-1652

Connect

Curriculum Vitae

EdPolicyResearch.org

Location

2007 SEB
610 E. University Ave.
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1259

Dr. Bahr is a nationally recognized scholar and expert on community colleges, student outcomes, and economic mobility. His research focuses on the role of community colleges and other nonselective or minimally selective public postsecondary institutions in creating and advancing educational and economic opportunities for (1) socioeconomically disadvantaged students, (2) older/adult/post-traditional students, and (3) marginalized students. Central concerns of his research are (A) identifying obstacles to academic progress, (B) strategies to build students' momentum toward graduation, and (C) factors that contribute to maximizing students' labor market outcomes and return on investment. A distinguishing feature of much of his research is close collaboration with state policymakers to ensure that the work is directly informing policy development aimed at achieving educational attainment goals, improving workforce opportunities, and strengthening state economic vitality and growth.

His current projects, which are funded by federal and foundation grants, encompass investigations of how to improve the education and labor market outcomes of students in postsecondary career and technical education, including short-term skills-building programs (both for-credit and noncredit), longer-term credential programs, and stackable credential pathways; studies seeking to strengthen STEM pathways from community colleges to universities; and research on optimizing developmental education reform in community colleges.

Selected Publications

"Reducing the loss of community college students who demonstrate potential in STEM."

Bahr, P. R., McNaughtan, J., & Jackson, G. (in press). Research in Higher Education.

"Investigating the viability of transfer pathways to STEM degrees: Do community colleges prepare students for success in university STEM courses?"

Bahr, P. R., Jones, E. S., & Skiles, J. (in press). Community College Review.

"Mid- and later-life community college students: ‘Off-time’ education and the significance of intracohort diversity."

Cummins, P. A., McGrew, K., Arobgast, A., Bahr, P. R., & Chen, Y. (in press). Community College Journal of Research and Practice.

"Community colleges: Origin, Evolution, Principles, and Debates."

Bahr, P. R., & Gross, J. L. (in press). In M. N. Bastedo, P. G. Altbach & P. J. Gumport (Eds.), American Higher Education in the 21st Century, 5th Edition (pp. ###-###). John Hopkins University.

"Stackable credentials pipelines and equity for low-income individuals: Evidence from Colorado and Ohio"

Daugherty, L., Bahr, P. R., Nguyen, P., May-Trifiletti, J., Columbus, R., & Kushner, J. (2023). RAND Corporation.

"Louisiana Noncredit Data Snapshot."

Bahr, P. R., Cable, A., D’Amico, M., & Van Noy, M. (2023). Education and Employment Research Center, Rutgers.

"Community college skills builders: Prevalence, characteristics, behavior, and outcomes of successful non-completing students across four states."

Bahr, P. R., Chen, Y., & Columbus, R. (2023). Journal of Higher Education, 94(1), 96-131.

"Investigating the hidden college: A study of community college noncredit education in five states."

Bahr, P. R., Columbus, R., Cepa, K., May-Trifiletti, J., & Kaser, S. (2022). University of Michigan and Opportunity America.

"Is age just a number? A statewide investigation of community college students’ age, classroom context, and course outcomes in college math and English."

Bahr, P. R., Boeck, C. A., & Cummins, P. (2022). Research in Higher Education, 63, 631-671.

"Are there age disparities in community college completion?: Evidence from Ohio’s community colleges."

Bahr, P. R., Columbus, R., & Yiran, C. (2022). Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 46(10), 755-762.

"Do the details of corequisite supports matter?"

Bahr, P. R., Cepa, K., McKay, H., Douglas, D., & Michael, S. (2022). Strong Start to Finish and the Education Commission of the States.

"Patterns of STEM-Math Enrollment and Completion."

McKay, H., Bahr, P. R., Michael, S., Douglas, D., Boyle, J., & Smith, M. (2022). Strong Start to Finish and the Education Commission of the States.

"Refining corequisite supports to boost student success."

Bahr, P. R., Cepa, K., & McKay, H. (2022). Strong Start to Finish and the Education Commission of the States.

"Strengthening outcomes of adult students in community colleges."

Bahr, P. R., Boeck, C. A., & Cummins, P. (2021). In L. W. Perna (Ed.), Higher Education: Handbook of Theory and Research, (pp. 217-273). Springer.

"How does undergraduate debt affect graduate school application and enrollment?"

Chen, R., & Bahr, P. R. (2021). Research in Higher Education, 62, 525-555.

"Barriers and facilitators for mid- and later-life community college students: The role of faculty."

Cummins, P. A., Arobgast, A., McGrew, K., & Bahr, P. R. (2021). Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 46(6), 431-434.

"Living longer, working longer, learning longer."

Cummins, P. A., Bahr, P. R., & Yamashita, T. (2021). In E. F. Fideler (Ed.), Rowman & Littlefield Handbook of Aging and Work, (pp. 327-347). Roman & Littlefield.

"Strategies employed by Ohio community colleges to improve labor market outcomes for older students."

Dikhtyar, O., Cummins, P. A., McGrew, K., & Bahr, P. R. (2021). Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 45(9), 619-630.

"Improving placement accuracy in California’s community colleges using multiple measures of high school achievement."

Bahr, P. R., Fagioli, L. P., Hetts, J., Hayward, C., Willett, T., Lamoree, D., Newell, M. A., Sorey, K., & Baker, R. B. (2019). Community College Review, 47(2), 178-211.

"Knowing is half the battle, or is it? A randomized experiment of the impact of supplemental notification letters on placement exam participation, preparation, and performance."

Moss, B. G., Bahr, P. R., Arsenault, L., & Oster, M. (2019). Research in Higher Education, 60, 737-759.

"The labor market returns to a community college education for non-completing students."

Bahr, P. R. (2019). Journal of Higher Education, 90(2), 210-243.

"Community colleges and older learners in Ohio higher education."

Cummins, P. A., Brown, J. S., Bahr, P. R., & Mehri, N. (2019). Scripps Gerontology Center, Miami University.

"The effects of computers and acquired skills on earnings, employment and college enrollment: Evidence from a field experiment and California UI earnings records."

Fairlie, R. W., & Bahr, P. R. (2018). Economics of Education Review, 63, 51-63.

"Heterogeneity of adult learners in higher education."

Cummins, P., Brown, J. S., Bahr, P. R., & Mehri, N. (2018). Adult Learning, 30(1), 23-33.

"Multiple paths forward: Diversifying mathematics as a strategy for college success."

Burdman, P., Booth, K., Thorn, C., Bahr, P. R., McNaughtan, J., & Jackson, G. (2018). WestEd & Just Equations.

"Unrealized potential: Community college pathways to STEM baccalaureate degrees."

Bahr, P. R., McNaughtan, J., Jackson, G., Oster, M., & Gross, J. (2017). Journal of Higher Education, 88(3), 430-478.

"The earnings of community college graduates in California."

Bahr, P. R. (2016). Center for the Analysis of Postsecondary Education and Employment, Teachers College, Columbia University.

"Community Colleges."

Bahr, P. R., & Gross, J. (2016). In M. N. Bastedo, P. G. Altbach & P. J. Gumport (Eds.), American Higher Education in the 21st Century, 4th Edition (pp. 462-502). John Hopkins University.

"Using multiple measures for placement in mathematics."

Bahr, P. R., Orians, E. L., & Schanker, J. S. (2016). Michigan Center for Student Success.

"Using multiple measures for placement in college composition."

Bahr, P. R., Orians, E. L., & Schanker, J. S. (2016). Michigan Center for Student Success.

"Replacing placement tests in Michigan’s community colleges."

Bahr, P. R. (2016). Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education, University of Michigan.

"Labor market returns to community college awards: Evidence from Michigan."

Bahr, P. R., Dynarski, S., Jacob, B., Kreisman, D., Sosa, A., & Wiederspan, M. (2015). Center for the Analysis of Postsecondary Education and Employment, Teachers College, Columbia University.

"First in line: Student registration priority in community colleges."

Bahr, P. R., Gross, J. L., Slay, K. E., & Christensen, R. D. (2015). Educational Policy, 29(2), 342-374.

"From college to jobs: Making sense of labor market returns to higher education."

Bahr, P. R., Bailey, T., Booth, K., Carnevale, A. P., Deane, KC., Gianneschi, M., Hanson, A. R., Kelly, P., Miller, B., Schneider, M., Whitfield, C., Witham, K. Wyner, J. [Authors Listed in Alphabetical Order] (2015). Aspen Institute.

"Classifying community colleges based on students’ patterns of use."

Bahr, P. R. (2013). Research in Higher Education, 54, 433-460.

"The deconstructive approach to understanding community college students’ pathways and outcomes."

Bahr, P. R. (2013). Community College Review, 41(2), 137-153.

"The aftermath of remedial math: Investigating the low rate of certificate completion among remedial math students."

Bahr, P. R. (2013). Research in Higher Education, 54, 171-200.

"A review and critique of the literature on community college students’ transition processes and outcomes in four-year institutions."

Bahr, P. R., Toth, C., Thirolf, K., & Massé, J. C. (2013). In M. B. Paulsen (Ed.), Higher education: Handbook of theory and research (Vol. 28, pp. 459-511). Springer.

"The missing piece: Quantifying non-completion pathways to success."

Booth, K., & Bahr, P. R. (2013). WestEd and LearningWorks.

"Deconstructing remediation in the community college: Exploring associations between course-taking patterns, course outcomes, and attrition from the remedial math and remedial writing sequences."

Bahr, P. R. (2012). Research in Higher Education, 53, 661-693.

"Student flow between community colleges: Investigating lateral transfer."

Bahr, P. R. (2012). Research in Higher Education, 53, 94-121.

"What’s completion got to do with it?: Using course-taking behavior to understand community college success."

Bahr, P. R., & Booth, K. (2012). Research and Planning Group for California Community Colleges.

"Segmentation model for assessing course-taking patterns: Research methodology and discussion guide."

Bahr, P. R., Booth, K., & Willett, T. (2012). Research and Planning Group for California Community Colleges.

"Transition processes of transfer students in the Marsal Family School of Education at the University of Michigan."

Bahr, P. R., Massé, J. C., Christensen, R., Griffiths, B., Toth, C., Thirolf, K., Nellum, C. J., Bergom, I., & Lee, M. (2012). Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education, University of Michigan.

"A typology of students’ use of the community college."

Bahr, P. R. (2011). New Directions for Institutional Research, S1, 33-48.

"The use of cluster analysis in typological research on community college students."

Bahr, P. R., Bielby, R., & House, E. (2011). New Directions for Institutional Research, S1, 67-81.

"What we don’t know about community college students: The case for a better understanding of student pathways."

Bahr, P. R. (2011). Center for Education Policy Analysis, Stanford University.

"The bird’s eye view of community colleges: A behavioral typology of first-time students based on cluster analytic classification."

Bahr, P. R. (2010). Research in Higher Education, 51, 724-749.

"Preparing the underprepared: An analysis of racial disparities in postsecondary mathematics remediation."

Bahr, P. R. (2010). Journal of Higher Education, 81(2), 209-237.

"Revisiting the efficacy of postsecondary remediation: The moderating effects of depth/breadth of deficiency."

Bahr, P. R. (2010). Review of Higher Education, 33(2), 177-205.

"Making sense of disparities in mathematics remediation: What is the role of student retention?"

Bahr, P. R. (2010). Journal of College Student Retention, 12(1), 25-49.

"Course-taking patterns, policies, and practices in developmental education in the California community colleges."

Perry, M., Bahr, P. R., Rosin, M., & Woodward, K. M. (2010). EdSource.

"Educational attainment as process: Using hierarchical discrete-time event history analysis to model rate of progress."

Bahr, P. R. (2009). Research in Higher Education, 50, 691-714.

"College hopping: Exploring the occurrence, frequency, and consequences of lateral transfer."

Bahr, P. R. (2009). Community College Review, 36(4), 271-298.

"PISA 2006 and the participation of students with special educational needs."

LeRoy, B., Samuel, P., & Bahr, P. R. (2009). In Students with disabilities, learning difficulties and disadvantages in the Baltic States, South Eastern Europe and Malta: Educational policies and indicators (pp. 127-159). OECD Publishing. ISBN 9789264075825.

"Too much of a good thing: Fatal attraction in intimate relationships."

Felmlee, D. H., Flynn, H. K., & Bahr, P. R. (2008). Free Inquiry in Creative Sociology, 36(1), 3-14.

"Cooling out in the community college: What is the effect of academic advising on students’ chances of success?"

Bahr, P. R. (2008). Research in Higher Education, 49, 704-732.

"Does mathematics remediation work?: A comparative analysis of academic attainment among community college students."

Bahr, P. R. (2008). Research in Higher Education, 49, 420-450. [Reprinted in E. M. Zamani-Gallaher, J. Lester, D. D. Bragg, & L. S. Hagedorn (Eds.). ASHE reader on community colleges, 4th edition. (2014; pp. 625-652). Pearson Publications.]

"Race and nutrition: An investigation of black-white differences in health-related nutritional behaviors."

Bahr, P. R. (2007). Sociology of Health & Illness, 29, 831-856. [Reprinted in W. Ahmad & H. Bradby (Eds.). Ethnicity, health and health care: Understanding diversity, tackling disadvantage (2008, pp. 35-59). Blackwell Publishing.]

"Double jeopardy: Testing the effects of multiple basic skill deficiencies on successful remediation."

Bahr, P. R. (2007). Research in Higher Education, 48, 695-725.

"College transfer performance: A methodology for equitable measurement and comparison."

Award Start Date

Feb 07, 2010

Award End Date

Jan 07, 2011

See All

Need Answers?

Email, Phone, and Addresses

Explore Degrees

Peter Riley Bahr

Contact

Connect

Location

Selected Publications

Grants

Improving Educational and Economic Opportunities through Community College Career and Technical Pipelines

Building Stackable Credential Pipelines that Support Equity and Provide Pathways to the Middle Class for Low-Income Students

CEDER GEAR UP 2020-2027

Improving the Education and Labor Market Outcomes of Students in Subbaccalaureate Postsecondary Institutions: What can we learn from Ohio's system of public career and technical centers?

Is the Devil in the Details?: Do Differences in Design Influence the Success of Co-requisite Supported Courses?

Multistate Study of Noncredit Education in Community Colleges

Mapping Barriers to Community College Completion among Older Learners: Identifying Malleable Factors to Improve Student Outcomes

Mapping the Community College STEM Pipelines

Effects of Undergraduate Indebtedness on Graduate School Enrollment: A Causal Investigation

Effects of Undergraduate Indebtedness on Graduate School Enrollment: A Causal Investigation

Center for the Study of Postsecondary Education and Employment

The "Black Hole" of Remedial Mathematics: Toward an Explanation for the Disparities in Successful Remediation between Severely, Moderately, and Mildly Deficient Community College Students

From Arithmetic to College Algebra: Identifying Obstacles to Successful Mathematics Remediation in Community Colleges