This dissertation investigates the dynamics of adult online learners within an urban community college setting, exploring relationships between specific adult learning predictor variables and online course grades. Understanding these relationships is crucial for informing educational policies, designing effective online learning environments, and…

This dissertation explores the stories of lived experience of mature women returners within the habitus of a single institution of higher education: The University of Washington Tacoma (UWT). This urban-serving university in Washington State was founded more than 30 years ago as an upper division branch campus designed to serve a place and…

The landscape of higher education has changed considerably over the past several decades as a more diverse population of students seeks higher education. Nontraditional students--those who are not entering college as first-time, full-time students immediately after college--are increasingly the norm on college campuses. Student-parents are a…

This article presents a multi-layered approach to mentoring within an urban secondary teacher education program in the mid-southern United States. The featured case focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), although multi-layered mentoring could occur in other subject areas or in general preservice teacher education. The…

The purpose of the present study was to explore self-reflections about the experiences of two faculty members with a special education background in a federally funded program at an urban university in order to advance the vocational training of individuals with developmental disabilities. The implementation of programs that provide education and…

For the first time in United States history, five of the six living generations matriculate together through college classrooms. The ever more rapid speed of change in the past 100 years has stimulated each generation's increasingly singular developmental experience resulting in ever expanding "generation gaps." In community colleges,…

This article presents findings from an education design research program to advance the development of the Cultural Proficiency Continuum Dialogic Protocol (CPCDP). The CPCDP is a primary data source that uses andragogical and asset-based pedagogies and approaches to assess and codify educators' cultural competence systematically. Findings…

This qualitative study of 43 adult learners in an urban community college critically examines the theory of andragogy's relevance in today's "New Economy." Findings encompass: (1) an individual dimension detailing adult learners' complex motivations for higher education; (2) an instructional dimension concerning the importance of…

While community colleges have traditionally been the leading providers of adult learner programs and the entry point for many minority students into higher education, very few English language learners (ELLs) transition to higher education. This qualitative gap analysis of the systems in place at a large urban public community college in the…

This mixed methods study explored the self-regulatory processes and how these practices influence academic achievement and career motivation among military student veterans at an urban community college in South Carolina. A quantitative analysis was conducted to explore the self-regulatory learning processes, self-efficacy, academic achievement,…

Informed by self-directed learning theory, we explored the relationship between community college students' ages and their use of academic advising. Although academic advising has been shown to be an important part of student success, few studies have explored academic advising at community colleges and among adult learners. We performed…

Academic success is contingent on multiple factors not the least of which is literacy and comprehension. However, research demonstrates that literacy and comprehension levels for traditional aged high secondary school students, as well as non-traditional adult college students threaten the academic success of these demographics. Identifying…

An interdisciplinary liberal arts program can prompt innovative ideas and self-discovery when fired in a kiln of social and economic justice fueled by high-impact practices. Developing learning communities, internships, group projects, local-to-global learning, community-based service learning, and capstone projects can enhance education and…

Generation 1 learners are multilingual, adult-arrival, immigrant students who begin their U.S. education in adult ESL. With their nontraditional academic backgrounds, these learners often require support when beginning postsecondary education; however, postsecondary learning assistance professionals may not understand these learners' unique needs…

A mixed methods study is used to investigate the effectiveness of a professional development program intended to enhance teacher knowledge and student learning so as to systematically improve student achievement in elementary literacy. In this study, a large urban school district partnered with a local university to provide intervention in a Title…