Student retention and graduation in higher education are important goals for institutions across the U.S., yet improving rates of first-year retention and graduation has proven challenging. One strategy promoted for improving these rates of student success is increasing levels of student engagement in the classroom and within the larger academic…

This study examines the relationship of undergraduate research (UGR) participation on senior students' reported engagement, perceived gains, satisfaction with their educational experience and retention, and graduation status compared to peers that have not participated in UGR. Data were drawn from 1,472 senior students at a comprehensive,…

Mass enrollment of minorities has been a trend in higher education over the last 30 years. Despite the increase of minorities enrolling in higher education, there is a gap in graduation rates and expected time to graduation when compared to Whites. The disparity in success rates of minority groups is of special importance as it highlights how…

Previous empirical inquiry into study abroad has consistently shown that students who study abroad have higher graduation rates than students who do not study abroad. In the current study, it was theorized that study abroad increased students' perceptions of the college or university that they attended. Using data from the National Survey of…

The purpose of this research was to investigate characteristics of students in the Complete College America (CCA) cohort at a rural Western community college and the relationship of those characteristics with the students' perception of success. Student graduation and success rates are low at community colleges, nationwide. CCA is actively working…

Surveys play a prominent role in assessment and institutional research, and the NSSE College Student Report is one of the most popular surveys of enrolled undergraduates. Recent studies have raised questions about the validity of the NSSE survey. Although these studies have themselves been criticized, documenting the validity of an instrument…

This study examined the relationship between student engagement and graduation rates between Black/African American students and White (Non-Hispanic) students in their senior year at faith-based institutions in the southeastern region of the United States using the NSSE benchmarks of effective educational practices. Specifically, scores from the…

Involvement in extracurricular activities is an oft-studied element of the college experience, especially as it has been linked to positive academic and non-academic measures. Yet, the possible limits of involvement's benefit suggest by Astin (1999) have not been scrutinized heavily. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship…

This study considered whether participation in a rigorous, intense summer bridge program had a significant effect on the academic success of African-American male and female students in developmental education, compared to nonparticipants, at a four-year Historically Black University in terms of retention, progression, and graduation from…

This study explored the issues of student-faculty interaction and faculty caring as experienced by Black students attending a Predominantly White Institution in a Mid-western urban city. Specifically, the study reviewed the questions related to student-faculty engagement as posed on the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). This study used…

A few years ago, in "Student Success in College (SSiC)," the authors profiled twenty colleges and universities that were unusually effective in fostering student engagement and success, defined as better-than-predicted scores on the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) and better-than-predicted graduation rates. These schools are…

Although Black commuter students are disadvantaged when it comes to higher education, research on the success of Black commuter students in college is very rare. Existing research on Black and commuter students primarily concentrate on negative statistics such as stagnant college completion rates, departure, and lack of engagement. The purpose of…

Adults are participating in all levels of higher education in increasing numbers due to a variety of societal, cultural, technological, and economic pressures. While many adult students attend 2-year colleges and technical institutions, 4-year colleges and universities are also enrolling substantial percentages of adult students. Nevertheless,…

The major higher education trade associations have addressed the calls for transparency and accountability by creating two public online databases into which colleges are able to voluntarily submit information on costs and outcomes. The National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) launched its University and College…

The demographic profile of the United States is changing. Between the years 2000 and 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau projects a 77% increase in the number of Hispanics, a 32% increase in African-Americans, and less than 1% increase in Whites (Kelly, 2005). As universities become more diverse, minority student retention becomes increasingly important…