As the population of adult learners increases in higher education institutions across the globe, recent studies demonstrate that they face barriers that delay their advanced degree completion. Although K University (pseudonym) had discussed this delay among its adult student population, no studies or interventions had been proposed to address the…

Problem: International students are an important part of higher education institutions because they bring in funds, they enhance the diversity, and increase the knowledge being shared (Srivastava et al., 2010; Luo & Jamieson-Drake, 2013; Ongo, 2019; Knight, 2007; Pandit, K., 2007; Baklashova & Kazakov, 2016). Therefore, if retention is not…

In the United States, doctoral students have a fifty percent chance of graduating from their institutions with a doctoral degree (Berelson, 1960; Bowen & Rudenstein, 1992; Lovitts, 2001; Sowell et al., 2015); however, this percentage decreases when race and ethnicity are included (Lovitts, 2001; Nettles & Millett, 2006). Research indicates…

Community colleges serve an access mission built on affordable tuition and an open-door admissions policy and deliver support to students and communities by providing post-secondary education, credentials, and workforce training. Several student groups, including first-generation and low-income students, find community colleges as a viable, and…

This dissertation sought to determine the impact of online dual enrollment (DE) coursework on first-generation students' college GPAs and persistence/graduation outcomes. Further, this dissertation intended to discover whether increased dosages of online DE coursework result in increased persistence/graduation rates of first-generation students.…

The transformation of higher education through legislation geared to improve outcomes focused on student persistence and college completion rather than student enrollment has forced colleges and universities to re-evaluate the success of all its students, particularly underserved students who have historically faced challenges in completing…

Whether studying physical sciences, social sciences, engineering, mathematics, humanities, or education, approximately one in every two doctoral students fail to persist to degree completion (Bowen & Rudenstine, 1992; Lovitts, 2001; Tinto, 2012). A quantitative comparative study focused on two populations; students currently enrolled in the…

Short term study abroad use by community colleges has been on the rise. This study looks at the effectiveness of short term study abroad programs at a community college. The study examines the use of these programs in promoting student retention, completion, and growth in intercultural competence. By looking at student retention and completion…

Though online course offerings have expanded to meet the needs of student access in the context of funding constraints, research has shown worse student outcomes in online classes, with significant inequities by race and ethnicity. Consequently, the proliferation of online course offerings could have vast implications for equity in the California…

The need for mental health professionals is increasing rapidly, and the United States is facing a critical shortage of mental health counselors. Concurrently, one of the largest and fastest-growing graduate student populations is first-generation (FG) college students. But this marginalized population is less likely to persist to graduation than…

Few studies have been completed on the persistence of certificate-seeking students attending American proprietary career colleges. Therefore, this study investigated variables predicting the persistence of certificate-seeking students at ABC Career Health College (a pseudonym), a Texas proprietary career institution. Data for the quantitative…

Utilizing a participatory action paradigm, this study guided advising administrators in the exploration of perceptions and practices pertaining to underrepresented undergraduate students' persistence and success at elite liberal arts colleges. The study was conducted in Fall 2023 and consisted of participant recruitment through individual emails…

Students of traditionally disadvantaged backgrounds generally need to receive extra support as they enter college. Many resources have been developed to address this issue, such as peer-counseling programs, faculty-mentoring programs, and federally funded TRIO Programs. There is an increase in retention problems in higher education communities and…

This qualitative case study explores student completion rates in two Oklahoma technology centers. Using Douglas' Grid and Group as a theoretical lens, the study explores corporate culture and the student support programs provided to help students successfully complete a vocational program. Findings suggest strong grid and strong group cultures…

The process of persisting successfully in completing an online Ph.D. program for adult learners was the focus of this qualitative research study. There is a significant gap in the literature about the process involved for adult learners pursuing their Ph.D. online. Charmaz's constructivist grounded theory (CGT) approach was used to explore the…