Building off seminal works on community including McMillan and Chavis, Lave and Wenger, Graves, and Wenger et al, the Institutional, Program, and Professional (IPP) community framework for online allows students, faculty, administrators, and alumni the opportunity to consider how to support community beyond online courses into programs, the…

This study presents a comparative analysis of student outcomes between online and face-to-face learning modalities at an urban community college in the Midwest, with a focus on retention and academic success. The college serves an average of 14,000 students annually across more than seventy career programs. Utilizing a quantitative approach, the…

This qualitative study sought to identify and analyze the perceptions of business students on the influence of CTAE programs on career readiness and graduation outcomes. The study adopted a phenomenological approach to explore how and why students develop their perceptions of CTAE. Notably, the study explored how business students perceive the…

The evolving demands of the global job market, driven by rapid technological advancements, have heightened the need for higher education institutions (HEIs) to adapt and prepare graduates for the workforce. This study addressed the critical issue of graduate unemployment in Ghana, juxtaposed with the increasing youth unemployment rate. The primary…

This non-experimental descriptive quantitative applied dissertation was designed to identify and analyze the soft employability skills desired by mid-Atlantic employers of business school graduates in a post-pandemic environment. The study evaluated alignment of the competencies possessed by business school graduates and the desired skills of…

Many universities in the United States are experiencing a decline in student enrollment and struggling with poor retention rates. Student attrition has long been recognized as a critical issue for institutions of higher learning globally. The consequences of students failing to complete degree programs include reduced university revenues, which,…

This study applied Bandura's (1986) social cognitive theory (SCT) and Gray et al.'s (2018) ecological framework to explore a sense of belonging among Black undergraduates pursuing a degree in business. This study sought to understand how Black students perceive a sense of belonging at the business school of City University (CU), a predominantly…

The problem addressed in this study was exploring how the advising experience affects student retention rates in online Master of Business programs. This qualitative narrative inquiry study explored student perceptions through their stories regarding the efficacy and impact of academic advising programming and resources on their academic success…

In the contemporary era, the landscape of innovation and entrepreneurship is dynamically evolving, fueled by a substantial surge in venture capital investments and the rapid expansion of the global startup ecosystem. This burgeoning growth not only highlights the vibrant nature of modern economies but also brings to the forefront the critical…

This study explores the intricate narratives and experiences of Black women navigating the landscape of post-secondary business education. Drawing from Black feminist theory, this research aims to shed light on the nuanced challenges and triumphs faced by Black women within the confines of business education. Employing qualitative methods,…

The purpose of this research was to better understand why very few undergraduate business students at an HBCU in the southeastern United States were participating in study abroad programs and to develop recommendations to increase participation. Specifically, the researcher identified student customer barriers to study abroad, gained a sense of…

This study explores the perceptions of employed MBA students regarding the value of optional micro-credentials and their impact on skill enhancement, career advancement, and personal growth. Utilizing Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), the research involved semi-structured virtual interviews with 15 participants, complemented by…

This multiple case study explored the experiences that business alumni had in competency-based leadership programs during their time as business undergraduate students in two universities, one in Mexico and the other in the United States. Methodological triangulation was addressed by collecting data from several sources and through different…

This dissertation investigates the utilization of authentic reading materials in ESL textbooks and the role that textbook-based tasks serve in enabling ESL classrooms to mirror the target environment. Three original studies are conducted, and two models are designed and applied in order to address the research questions, which aim to establish a…

The University of Mississippi has a history and continued stigma of not being a welcoming place for people of color. While the university has made strides to distance itself from its past, negative stereotypes and perceptions still exist among some students and parents. These stereotypes and perceptions can make recruiting students more difficult.…