While the number of individuals in the United States between the ages of 25-44 with a bachelor's degree has been increasing, so too has the number of individuals who have started college and dropped out. Higher education has numerous societal and individual benefits that are not being actualized because there are simply not enough individuals with…

Determining how female Marines currently pursuing a degree in higher education perceive their journey and experiences can provide valuable information for those contemplating pursuing higher education. Additionally, these perceptions can inform the need for modifications to policies at supporting organizations and educational institutions that are…

The purpose of this research study was to examine and understand the educational aspiration-attainment gap of Chamorro males in the higher education landscape. The current study employed a qualitative approach using a collective case study of 10 Chamorro males who have attended the University of Guam for at least one semester without completing a…

This study researched educational/career aspirations of thirty-one Hmong students attending high school in the Midwest United States. Historically, Hmong students have faced a variety of barriers in their schooling. Schools need to address the hidden equity issues facing Hmong students. The social and cultural messages in the classroom speak to a…

This study explored the lived experiences of Latino migrant youth who were later able to achieve high levels of academic success. Through the use of narrative case studies, I examined which factors allowed these individuals to overcome substantial barriers to education to attain high levels of academic achievement. I was able to find that these…

Social workers in academia must advocate for Appalachian college students who are less likely to obtain a bachelor degree than other students, resulting in the loss of individual and regional potential. This study used an action research, case study design to explore the perceptions of Appalachian college students on this issue; specifically: (a)…

This doctoral dissertation studied the various factors that influence the success of first generation, low income, Latino, community college students in transferring to four-year colleges and universities. The participants in this study were eight first-generation, low-income Latino male, EOPS community college students. This qualitative inquiry…

The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to examine the high school counselors' perception of their ability to influence low socioeconomic students' postsecondary enrollment decisions in seven Title I high schools in southern California. Perna and Thomas' Student Success model and the Delivery System of the American School…

Although college enrollment rates have expanded over the last several decades, low-income students and students of color continue to face formidable barriers as they seek entry into higher education. While the existence of these barriers are often viewed as macro-level roadblocks that are largely systemic, much of the literature around access to…

Unprecedented rapidity of change occurring throughout the higher education sector linked to student mobility driven globalization momentum reinforces the benefits of attracting and cultivating the strongest students to contribute diversity of thought to learning environments. The purpose of this case study was to explore multiple perspectives of…

South Korean college students face substantial familial, financial, peer and societal challenges for pursuing their educational pathways and career advancement. Currently, America has venerated the high-stakes, standardized test scores of East Asian students as a panacea for the nation's public education challenges. The objective of this case…

The purpose of this qualitative case study utilizing ethnographic methods was to understand how family members' participation in Digital Home, a community-based technology program in an urban mid-sized Midwestern city, built on and fostered Latino immigrant families' community cultural wealth (Yosso, 2005) in order to increase their abilities to…

Professional identity development encompasses concepts of personal identity and self-efficacy while continued education supports a teacher's change in perspective and practices leading to professional growth. A combination of motivation and personal goals guide teachers' behaviors as they interact within their social and cultural environments. The…

While the growth of the Hispanic population in the United States is outpacing other ethnicities, college enrollment and graduation rates of Hispanic students continue to lag behind other groups. This longitudinal, qualitative case study explored when, how, and why a sample of Hispanic high school seniors at a large high school in North Central…

Nearly half of all undergraduates in the U.S. are enrolled in community colleges and many aspire to obtain a baccalaureate degree, however, less than 13% do so within six years. Integration has been identified in higher education literature as a salient factor contributing to students' persistence. Empirical evidence suggests that…