A growing Latinx population within the United States and California has given rise to an increase in Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and a proliferation of a new and lesser-known institutional type of HSI, the Hispanic-Serving Research Institution (HSRI). With HSRIs historically being identified as predominantly white institutions (PWI) and…

The purpose of this qualitative multi-case research study was to explore how senior administrators at four higher education institutions learned and made decisions during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bandura's social cognitive theory guided this study as it addressed how people learn enactively and vicariously as well as the…

Students with disabilities are an underrepresented demographic in higher education institutions that is often overlooked and excluded with limited engagement strategies. It is imperative for postsecondary institutions to actively foster a more inclusive and welcoming environment for this student group. Little is understood about the impact of…

This dissertation explores the integration of culturally responsive leadership (CRL) into the professional development of higher education academic professionals, with the goal of fostering critical consciousness, self-efficacy, and just praxis. Through an action research case study methodology, the study investigated the effectiveness of a CRL…

This basic qualitative interview study explored the perceptions of 18 gender-expansive individuals for whom gender identity exists beyond society's binary construct of gender. Participants have been or are employees or students at a four-year public higher education institution in southern California. This study examined participants' perceptions…

In 2013, the U.S. Department of Education published revised guidelines for emergency response planning for colleges and universities in the United States. These guidelines reflect the collective work of numerous government intelligence, law enforcement, and preparedness agencies that have taken into account the past successes and failures of…

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore faculty diversity in the South by examining the campus climate and leadership commitment to the recruitment and retention of African American faculty. The Critical Race Theory (CRT) concept of storytelling captured the participants' personal experiences and perceptions. Three higher…

Today, Latinos are enrolling in higher education at higher rates than ever before. Access to higher education for Latinos is no longer the greatest issue facing this population. Instead, degree completion is of increasing concern not to only Latinos, but also to higher education researchers and administrators. The purpose of this study was to…

There is a lack of research addressing social integration of African American students at predominantly White institutions (PWIs). Evidence has indicated that the college experience for African American students at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) when compared with that of their African American peers attending a PWI is more…

The experiences of Black students at predominantly White institutions (PWIs) of higher education have been the focus of study and policymaking for several decades. Much of the research addresses dimensions of campus racial climate and its impact on the academic and campus life experiences of Black students at large universities. The experiences of…

This qualitative study employs three theoretical frameworks as the source of its foundation, covering literature from Acting White, Stereotype Threat and Campus Climate. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the perceptions of Racial Climate as perceived by African American college students attending a University with a Diverse Student Body…

The historical integration of the University of Mississippi (UM) brought both national and local attention when James Meredith was escorted by U.S. Marshals to enroll and attend classes on October 1, 1962 (Cohodas, 1997; Doyle, 2001; Eagles, 2009). Since the integration of UM, racial issues and efforts to promote racial reconciliation primarily…

With increased competition among higher education institutions for best- fit students, the profession of college admissions is compelled to implement innovative recruiting strategies (e.g. online social networking sites), that may impact college access and persistence in the United States. This qualitative study examined the reasons why two…

Alumni relations programs are a foundational component to institutional advancement and are often the unit that regularly communicates news and information about the institution to its alumni. Alumni relations professionals can strategically position a higher education institution among its alumni by including and emphasizing information that is…

As postsecondary education is promoted as necessary for participating in the 21st century knowledge economy, academics, policymakers, and the public have voiced concerns about the quality and coherence of undergraduate education (AAC & U, 2007; Barr and Tagg, 1995; U.S. Department of Education, 2006). Critics point to the size, scope, and multiple…