The purpose of this non-experimental, comparative, quantitative study was to determine if there were significant differences between the perceptions of male and female community college students about the importance of sense of community (SoC) in online classes and sense of instructor presence (IP) at eight southern, public, community colleges…

This research aimed to determine if community college students who complete an associate degree before transferring are likelier to complete a baccalaureate degree than those who transfer before completing an associate degree. Additionally, this study examined if the type of institution, public vs. private, that a student transfers to impacts…

LGBTQ history within the US South is rich and diverse though it has remained mostly absent from mainstream and academic narratives around LGBTQ history generally. In recent years, there has been a growing effort to location, preserve, research and make accessible to the community the history of the Queer and Trans South. Despite stereotypes of the…

This research study examined student perceptions of advisement experiences with a primary role advisor in a centralized advising office. The intent was to explore the connection between academic advising and student connectedness to the institution. This study utilized Tinto's theory of student departure to provide an understanding of how student…

The COVID pandemic has transformed American higher education in ways that have yet to be fully comprehended. The abrupt shift toward online instruction was the first reaction to the growing threat of COVID. The effects of this shift were far-reaching. Specifically, this realignment to online delivery models created new links between or among…

The impact of work-life balance is imposing a significant strain on faculty in higher education. Much of the literature suggests faculty are not satisfied with their jobs and do not feel a sense of belonging, and the results show negative impacts on faculty well-being. Results from a 2015 Gallup survey of faculty workplace engagement showed…

This qualitative study examines the perceptions of faculty and administration of the value of service-learning in the promotion and tenure process at Minnesota State University, Mankato, a midsized, Midwestern public university. The study aims to determine the answers to three main questions: what barriers and logistical issues do faculty face? Is…

This qualitative research study explored how undergraduate students at a public four-year land grant university can co-create a sense of belonging through an appreciative inquiry (AI) process. The study employed a strengths-based and generative approach to investigate the experiences of students within the same student organization, focusing on…

To increase student completion, community college leaders have focused on the implementation and sustainability of organizational change efforts, particularly guided pathways, since 2015. Although researchers have studied many different change efforts and types of change in higher education, the focus of this research was on describing guided…

The current study is among undergraduate students at a mid-sized regional doctoral-granting four-year public university in the Southwestern United States. The purpose of the study was to compare the self-efficacy and sense of belonging of students who experienced a transition program before beginning their college careers to those who did not.…

While community colleges intend for their students to complete their associate degree before transferring to a university, that is not always the case. Many students transfer when they are only a few course credits short of an associate degree. The study was conducted at a public university in Texas. The option of the reverse transfer process…

Higher education institutions in the United States are under intense scrutiny to engage in data-driven decision-making to address systemic deficiencies. An innovative strategy to increase the use of data in higher education is through interactive data visualization whereby users are more involved in the creation of knowledge. The problem that was…

How do people navigate institutional life together amid deep differences? Existing work highlights the mechanisms that drive and challenge exclusion and polarization, but these theories do not account for the moral frameworks, both implicit and explicit, that guide action. My dissertation brings tools from cultural and interactionist sociology to…

Performance funding has become a popular policy structure for public higher education institutions across the United States. The implications on budget and student success are considerable. This study examines performance funding through the perspective of chief executive officers (CEOs) at public community colleges in a southern state. Utilizing…

Institutions of higher education are environments of civic engagement, with a special responsibility of fostering participation among members and involvement in the community. Yet, a common issue is a definitional one. Scholars and practitioners have debated what counts as college student civic engagement, with as many definitions as participants…