Small Bible colleges have limited resources to recruit students. They must find strategies to recruit and retain college-ready students who fit with their mission. With limited or no endowments or reserves, these colleges rely primarily on enrollment tuition revenue. The purpose of this study, conducted at a small Bible college in the southeastern…

The purpose of this research was to inform best practices for creating institutional self-assessments for measuring financial sustainability. The project took place at a small tuition-dependent college that will be referred to as ABC College. Participants and data collected in Cycle 1 of this action research project consisted of a series of seven…

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study is to highlight the characteristics that first-time, first-year students at a small, private, faith-based university in South Florida perceive as part of quality advising, what qualities of advising this group of students perceive as most important for their retention, and whether the advisors…

Beginning at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, higher education experienced a sea of change in reduced enrollment, altered course delivery models, and increased need for student support. While observing staff's actual impact on the student experience during this time, this study will address the question, "How do professional staff in small…

Enrollment and retention in higher education can be challenging under normal circumstances, but combined with a global pandemic, institutions will need to look at strategies to help navigate these uncertain times. This dissertation provided the needed research on the processes of decision-making related to enrollment, retention, institutional…

Forty years ago, females surpassed males in enrollment and completion in higher education. Even as the number of students in higher education has increased over the last 4 decades, the number of males who enroll and persist to completion has continued to widen. This gender gap in higher education attainment is starting to gain the attention of…

This study utilized interpretive phenomenology to investigate the influence of academic consumerism on nurse educators. It aimed to gain insights into the effects of academic consumerism on teaching methodologies, classroom, and clinical management, as well as its impact on faculty satisfaction and their intention to persist in the profession.…

Care teams, an important structure at most institutions of higher education, coordinate the work of various units to intervene with students who are at risk of attrition, academic failure, and/or are experiencing socio-emotional struggles. The authors provide various examples of how case management and Care Teamwork is structured in the small…

Unequitable representation among students of color in higher education remains a persisting challenge. For the few racially and ethnically diverse individuals that make it into college, they are faced with numerous adversities that impede their ability to succeed academically and socially at their institutions, therefore lowering their sense of…

Community colleges have a long history of providing entrance to higher education to minority students who enroll in these institutions underprepared and deprived of basic needs. With limited resources, community college leaders are expected to assist students in academic pursuits. The Center for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (Center for EDI)…

Institutions of higher education increasingly have adopted high-impact practices (HIPs) as a means to increase student retention and engagement. Yet, the growth and assessment of these practices have primarily focused on a student's first and final years, which can contribute to a second-year slump. Administrative data from a small, 4-year liberal…

When Vicky Wood came to Washington State Community College as president in 2017, the college was investing limited resources in efforts to improve student success. Dr. Wood brought on a new leadership team, which has engaged faculty and staff throughout the college in making substantial changes to organizational practice and culture with the goal…

This longitudinal study evaluated the efficacy of a summer bridge program (SBP) and other support services on college graduation rates at a small liberal arts school in Purchase, NY. Financially disadvantaged students (n = 136) receiving a scholarship and a summer bridge curriculum within the Manhattanville Achievement Program were compared to…

Poor retention and completion outcomes cast doubts about the ability of higher education to provide a return on the money, time, and resource investment. Accountability for the quality of higher education has been an increasingly significant national issue in higher education over the past decade. As pressures for accountability increase, so does…

While there is a lack consensus as to whether orientations for online students should be completed on campus or online, research suggests that having an in-depth orientation and onboarding process increases the academic preparedness of online students and, consequently, improves retention. This action research study attempted to evaluate the…