This qualitative and descriptive research examines the effect of international branch campuses (IBCs) on the achievement of four of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) via the lens of the University of Colombia (pseudonym) and the higher education system promoted through their IBC at the University of Ivory Coast…

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterized by multiple symptoms related to either hyperactivity/impulsivity or inattention and significant impairment. College students with ADHD experience greater impairment than their typical peers, including substance use behaviors. Although the use of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs is…

African American males have had the lowest baccalaureate graduation rates compared to all other races/ethnicities and genders in higher education (NCES, 2019). Researchers have identified salient factors that contribute to or impede this population's persistence to graduation to mitigate this problem. One factor contributing significantly to…

Religiosity and spirituality often provide core coping structures to believers. College students are regularly put into novel situations and environments in which they must rely on their coping mechanisms, including practices that stem from their potential religious/spiritual identities. However, religious identity group differences in college…

Nature has the ability to heal many psychological wounds from anxiety and depression, stress, post traumatic stress disorder, and behavioral concerns. As a result, clinicians are recognizing the power of nature as a tool in the healing process. The purpose of this dissertation, which consists of one completed systematic review and a multiple probe…

Up to 80% of children diagnosed with ADHD have symptoms that persist into adulthood (Barkley et al., 2007), and up to 8% of college students report having the disorder (DuPaul et al., 2009). COVID-19 has exacerbated ADHD-related difficulties with concentration, academic performance, and emotional distress (Breaux et al., 2021; Pollak et al.,…

The purpose of this research study was to investigate university students' perceptions of their experiences of anxiety and its influence on the quality of their college experiences. Given the purpose of this study and the review of the literature, there were three primary research questions in this study. First, how do college students perceive…

The problem that this study addressed was the lack of a survey tool to adequately assess the impact of practicing capoeira, including for People of Color who are male adults attending undergraduate and graduate universities. Thus, the purpose of the study was to evaluate the value and utility of a new survey designed to enhance research and…

The development plan in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Saudi society includes accepting female students and affording them the opportunity to study abroad under the King Abdullah Scholarship Program (KASP). In 2005, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, of Saudi Arabia, and President George W. Bush, of the United States, agreed to increase the number…

This project introduces the L.E.G.A.C.Y. appreciative life review model (L.E.G.A.C.Y.) and provides preliminary evidence for its feasibility with emerging adults in a higher education context. L.E.G.A.C.Y. is the first model to integrate appreciative inquiry as well as a retrospective-prospective framework and experiential elements into the life…

The problems facing rural America are wide ranging and multilayered. Perceptions can often be reality for those unfamiliar with rural life, which can pose a hurdle for businesses to overcome. With an in-depth literature review and research study, this dissertation aims to provide context and understanding to the problems and misconceptions of…

An increasing number of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are transitioning into adulthood and entering postsecondary education. For both typical individuals and individuals with ASD, a college education and experience is linked to improved outcomes in employment, personal skill building, integration into a meaningful community, and…

Background: Collegiate recovery programs (CRPs) aim to support the unique needs of students in recovery, promote academic success, and facilitate psychosocial development (i.e. coping, self-efficacy, differentiation of self, self-acceptance, and quality of life). Strategies used to achieve these goals vary considerably based on the culture of the…

A large body of literature has explored the impact of compassion fatigue on individuals who work within various helping professions. Few studies, however, have sought to understand its impact on educators, more specifically student affairs professionals. As the number of students attending college with diagnosed mental health issues, and…

The high rates of anxiety in college students and the many barriers to accessing evidence-based care in communities and on campuses indicate a clear need to explore ways to provide effective evidence-based treatments to more people. Web-based interventions and preventions are one way to bridge this gap, and hold the potential to decrease suffering…