This qualitative exploratory study investigated the selection and change of majors for nine HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) students. The study included individual structured interviews that provided data that answered the following research questions: 1) what factors influenced the initial selection of major, and 2) what…

Research on college outcomes is often disaggregated by ethnicity or race of students. Common classifications of race and ethnicity include Asian, Black, Hispanic, White, and other (Shapiro et al., 2017). One group absent from this list is Multiracial (a person having parents of two or more races) students. While Multiracial students are mentioned…

Many African American male students who enroll in higher education institutions do not graduate. This phenomenological study aims to understand factors contributing to the success of African American male students at a Midwestern Black Historical Institution. The theory underpinning this study is William Sedlacek's noncognitive variables, which…

Using descriptive statistics and logistic regressions, this study compared U.S. Census data from 22-24-year-old women in 1980 and 2020 to determine the individual and contextual variables most predictive of bachelor's degree attainment. The regressions were conducted for women overall, women who have ever enrolled in college, mothers, and mothers…

This qualitative phenomenological study investigated the perspectives of university students who self-identified as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) regarding the academic support systems they received and/or required to graduate on time. The study's primary objective was to discover support mechanisms that supported DACA recipients…

This hermeneutic phenomenological research aims to explore how Jamaican students who extend their studentship beyond four years in a Higher Educational Institution (HEI) experience academic and social integration in Jamaica. The study was guided by three research questions three sociological models and one leadership theory. Astin's (1984),…

Participation in accelerated learning programs (defined in this study as Advanced Placement, Dual Enrollment, and International Baccalaureate) continues to expand across the US. As such, it is important to better our understanding of the relationship among these three programs concerning measures of student postsecondary achievement. Prior…

This dissertation addressed the underrepresentation of African American women attaining doctoral degrees at universities across the nation. It also explored the McNair Scholars Program, and the role the program played in preparing African American female students for graduate school and completion of the doctoral degree. In line with the…

Early college high school (ECHS) and dual enrollment programs offer opportunities for students to work toward their 2-year degree while still in high school. The problem for this study was that the ECHS and dual enrollment programs had not been compared to see if they facilitated 2-year college degree completion compared to one another and to a…

The population of college-going students from diverse backgrounds is increasing (Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education [WICHE], 2020). However, minoritized students have traditionally been less well served by colleges and universities in terms of timely degree completion (U.S. Department of Education, 2020d). Small private colleges…

Latino students are enrolling in college at higher rates than any other demographic, but these developments have not been reflected in increased retention or degree completion rates. A disparity in the rate of degree achievement between Latino males and their counterparts has been referred to as the "vanishing Latino male" phenomenon.…

The dissertation examined the significance of disaggregated data in relation to college students' sense of belonging among Latinx ethnic subgroups. Sense of belonging has been positively associated with student persistence, retention, and completion of degree (Korpershoek et al., 2020). Latinx consist of numerous ethnic subgroups, and…

A college education can represent a path toward a stable career, social and health benefits, or upward mobility for students. However, a large proportion of students who enroll in college fail to complete a degree. Despite the potential benefits of a college education, students encounter a number of barriers to college success. In this…

The purpose of this multicase study was to investigate and understand how institutional agents foster a culturally engaging campus environment to facilitate completion for Latinx students at federally designated Hispanic-serving community colleges in New Jersey. This multicase study focused on institutional agents at two New Jersey community…

Competency-based education (CBE) saw a significant rise in adoption in the last decade, mainly in response to the many deficiencies of the traditional credit hour system in measuring higher education students' learning. Nevertheless, despite the many advantages CBE can offer, educators noted several design-related gaps in how the model addresses…