College integration, specifically the first year of college for diverse first-generation college students (FGCS), has been a topic of research in the field of postsecondary education for the last two decades. Postsecondary research has established a connection between inadequate college readiness and poor persistence, resulting in diverse FGCS not…

This study assesses the impact of cognitive and noncognitive pre-characteristics on college graduation in Tennessee. The State of Tennessee has applied multiple campus-based interventions at the Tennessee Board of Regents and the University System of Tennessee to increase graduation rates. This study is driven by three concepts and investigated by…

This study examines college choice decisions of students admitted to the University of California (UC) and the relationship between these choices and degree attainment. It does so using a dataset that combines UC administrative data with National Student Clearinghouse data on enrollment and degree attainment. It first discusses how academic and…

In the United States, previous and current data state that Black males have the lowest persistence and graduation rates in higher education institutions among all student populations. Black men in public four-year colleges and universities are generally the lowest-performing male group. According to the US Department of Education, only 38.6% of…

As the adult learner population in higher education continues to increase, there has been a renewed focus on how to best serve this student population in recent years. While adult learners are more likely to take online classes and to enroll part-time, engagement and retention efforts have not heavily focused on part-time online adult learners,…

Two-year state and community colleges provide convenient and affordable educational opportunities with open admissions policies, which make them "value-added institutions that are uniquely different than traditional colleges and universities" (Grubbs, 2020, p. 205). Students across the nation enroll in 2-year colleges to pursue their…

This qualitative case study explored with a sample of first-generation students the factors that aided or impeded their pursuit of a degree before the pandemic, factors that impacted them during the crisis and any differences in their experiences at elite vs. non-elite schools. The rationale for the study was based on the researcher's objective to…

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to explore how students experience the New Student Orientation Experience (NSOE) and how they perceived it prepared them for their 1st semester of college at a large public university in the United States, Arizona State University (ASU). Institutions of higher education are under pressure to operate more…

Social and emotional competence (SEC) is critical in determining college preparedness and student outcomes. College students need more than just academic knowledge to succeed. SEC encompasses a range of skills, including self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. These skills are…

Increasing diversity has resulted in more African American male students studying in predominantly white universities. This study focused on the strategies that they employed in order to remain academically successful, preventing drop out from college. Although Historically Black Colleges and Universities persist as a higher educational option for…

This study investigated how university officials at five public universities in the Commonwealth of Virginia responded in the aftermath of a law concerning credit policies for International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement (AP) examinations. Mandated by the Code of Virginia § 23-9.2:3.8, this policy is unique in the area of AP and IB…

The purpose of this study was to explore the first-year academic experiences and achievement of Chinese international undergraduate students in American higher education. To do so, I tracked a cohort of Chinese international undergraduates through their first-year at a public research university in the United States. Both qualitative and…

This study examined factors that relate to the persistence of first-generation undergraduate students in a 4-year public university in the Southeastern United States. Results were analyzed from a 2011 two-part survey: CARES-I (College Assessment of Readiness for Entering Students-Intent) and CARES-A (College Assessment of Readiness for Entering…