The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to determine the frequency of marijuana use by California university students based on gender and ethnicity. This study was important because marijuana is the most used illicit substance in the United States, and there is limited research regarding the demographic characteristics of…

The purpose of this research was to better understand how student participants from the Pennsylvania State University developed global awareness, global understanding, and the ability to effectively apply intercultural knowledge, skills collectively known as "global competency" during a short-term, faculty-led study abroad program…

This multi-site, embedded case study drew on qualitative data to uncover how Black Student Unions (BSUs) within a large California university system bridged or buffered Black student experiences. The central purpose of this case study was to gain an understanding of the Black students' experiences within the BSU, framing the overarching research…

The undocumented student experience has been a topic of interest for educational institutions since the passing of AB 540 in 2001 and has become an increasingly prevalent phenomenon amid emergent legislation, ever-changing political climates, and the rise of Dream Centers and undocumented student liaisons across higher education systems. However,…

Institutions of higher education are no strangers to crisis situations. From world wars to campus violence, colleges and universities across the United States have been both directly and indirectly affected by these crisis situations. However, in the early part of 2020, higher education was faced with a situation that transcended anything colleges…

This qualitative, single case study explored whether and how a campus police agency's community policing model fostered collective efficacy among students, faculty, staff members and campus police. Using Bandura's (2000) collective efficacy theory, this study was guided by the following questions: (1) How does a campus police department use a…

The purpose of this Dissertation in Practice was to examine the perceptions and attitudes of faculty members at Florida State University - Panama City and then to further explore, through interviews, why the faculty hold a positive, neutral, or negative view of intrusive advising. The goal of this project was to understand the barriers for faculty…

Although students with specific learning disabilities are graduating from high school and being accepted into college at higher rates, research shows that the majority of these students are unsuccessful at the collegiate level (Alvarez-Perez et al., 2012; Connor, 2009; Gil, 2007; Lightfoot et al., 2018; Newman et al., 2011). This study is…

Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), Summer Bridge Programs (SBP)across the California State University (CSU) system vary in design and delivery. This mixed-methods study investigated six CSU SBP designs, delivery, and 4-year graduation rates of SBP participants during the 2015 through 2019 years. The qualitative portion of this study consisted…

With respect to studies examining Black students at predominately White historically Black colleges or universities (HBCU), very little data exists; therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which the specific benefits to Black and White students attending an HBCU (i.e., academic adjustment, social adjustment,…

The purpose of this qualitative evaluation was to understand how the Ascent program, a bridge initiative at Plymouth State University, programmatically addressed institutional concerns regarding student retention and persistence during its three-year pilot phase, according to the perceptions of past participants, faculty, and administrators. The…

The purpose of this study was to use the iron triangle as a theoretical framework or lens through which to explore the use of long-term tuition freezes as a tuition strategy adopted by higher education institutions to control costs while maintaining or improving quality and increasing access for students from underrepresented populations. Through…

Preparing graduates for full-time employment following graduation has become an increasing concern for universities. Student services departments who employ students have been tasked with providing intentional development opportunities for them. At Arizona State University those opportunities have been taken on by professional staff members (PSM)…

This quantitative research study examined factors predicting student success via student course grades, specifically focusing on Underrepresented Minorities (URM) students and women, collectively known as Disproportionately Impacted (DI) math-based STEM (GEMP-STEM) students at San Diego State University. Utilizing a Faculty Survey and secondary…

The Elon Research Seminar, "Critical Transitions: Writing and the Question of Transfer," was a coalition of rhetoric and composition scholars' attempt at codifying writing transfer knowledge for teaching and research purposes. Although the seminar was an important leap in transfer research, many 'behind the scenes' decisions of writing…