TRAIT AND BEHAVIORAL DIFFERENCES AMONG COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS BASED ON GENDER: RESULTS OF A NATIONAL STUDY Michael T. Miller University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA Myron L. Pope University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, Oklahoma, USA Thomas D. Steinmann Lewis and Clark Community College, Godfrey, Illinois, USA Female students in community colleges have been classified into two distinct categories: those who enroll to take advantage of cost savings and streamlined requirements, and those who seek a safe-harbor as they enter higher education for a variety of reasons. Community colleges enroll substantial numbers of female students and must make a determ- ined effort to understand their unique characteristics, behaviors, and traits in order to serve them effectively. The current study, drawing on a national sample, provides some initial baseline comparisons between male and female students and offers specific suggestions for practice. Much has been written in recent years about college students in general, and community college students in specific (Cohen & Brawer, 1996). Community college students have been particularly Address correspondence to Myron L. Pope, Vice President for Enrollment Services, University of Central Oklahoma, 100 North University Drive, Edmond, OK 73034-5209. E-mail: myronp@ ou.edu Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 30: 715–728, 2006 Copyright # Taylor & Francis Group, LLC ISSN: 1066-8926 print/1521-0413 online DOI: 10.1080/10668920500207585 715