The teacher workforce does not look much like the adult population or the students they serve. Across the country, only 21% of teachers are from historically disadvantaged racial groups compared to 35% of working-age adults and 49% of students. Simple math suggests that the diversity gap between students and teachers will only close when teachers…

Trauma has been shown to cause poor academic performance, high drop-out rates, lack of confidence, lack of connection to peers, difficulty regulating emotions, and more (Bishop et al., 2019; Duncan, 2000; Gaywish & Murdoch, 2018; Hallett & Crutchfield, 2017; Hallett et al., 2018; Redford, 2015; Warnecke & Lewine, 2019). The student…

Undergraduate research offers a significant avenue for enhancing the engagement and skill development of underrepresented students, particularly those from BIPOC backgrounds. This study conducted at Penn State University aimed to illuminate the challenges faced by BIPOC students in their pursuit of undergraduate research opportunities and promote…

This Action Research with a survey component study examined the various obstacles that lead to minority student's lack of persistence and failure to graduate two and four year colleges and universities. Minority students have many obstacles that start at a very early age that prevent them from being academically competitive, and travel with them…

Sexual violence (SV) on college campuses disproportionately affects cisgender (nontransgender) women, sexual minorities (e.g., gays/lesbians, bisexuals), and gender minority (e.g., transgender/nonbinary) people. This study investigates gender and sexual behavior differences in common SV intervention targets--SV-related knowledge, prevention…

Many librarians conduct research in higher education by studying the undergraduate students with whom they work. Instead of research on students, this paper argues the need for library and information science (LIS) research with, for, and by students. It shows why librarians should explore collaborative partnerships with student-researchers to…

As part of one predominantly White institution's efforts to better support teacher candidates of Color (TCOCs), researchers held focus group discussions with TCOCs. Findings include TCOCs' diverse identities and shared experiences of "onlyness" in educational settings (Harper et al., 2011). Recommendations include racial affinity groups…

The STEM Scholars program at Bucknell University was originally supported with a five-year National Science Foundation STEP grant to begin recruitment for a summer program in 2014. The grant, with a one-year no-cost extension, supported six cohorts of students. The recruitment of participants was specifically designed to attract typically…

Students of color at predominantly white institutions have been underserved by chaplaincy services. This study investigates why that is and what can be done. The experiences of Native American students at Susquehanna University provide a critical lens on this history and potential paths forward. The growing religious and ethnic diversity in higher…

According to the literature, people of color experience microaggression in their everyday lives. The literature speaks less of how students of color experience microaggression on college campuses. There is even less in the research about how students educated on predominately White colleges and universities in the northeast region experience…

The purpose of this quantitative research study was to examine the enrollment trends of racial minority and low socioeconomic enrollment, and the equity of higher education access at a four-year private institution in western Pennsylvania. The study concentrated on two student populations over a five-year period at a four-year private institution…

Over the last few years, much attention has been focused on the nationwide teacher shortage. As teachers begin to retire in record numbers, and the number of students entering teacher education majors continues to decline, concern around the teacher shortage heightens (US Dept. of Ed., 2016). The numbers are even more dire when looking at Teachers…

Persistent inequities in access to and experiences of learning in postsecondary education have been well documented. In line with efforts to redress these inequities and develop more just institutions, this study explores the potential for pedagogical partnerships in which students and faculty collaborate on teaching and learning initiatives to…

When the phrase "Social workers cannot be racist" is used, there is not consideration of race, racism, and the detrimental effects of racism. This study includes an exploration of the extent to which social workers have been educated on racism-based trauma. Most participants did not have courses or training on the concept of racism-based…

The Pell Grant is the foundational need-based student aid program in the United States, providing students of lower socio-economic status a pathway to afford college costs and educational expenses. Currently, over one-third of all U.S. undergraduate students receive Pell. This paper examines federal Pell assistance and institutional costs for…