Small Bible colleges have limited resources to recruit students. They must find strategies to recruit and retain college-ready students who fit with their mission. With limited or no endowments or reserves, these colleges rely primarily on enrollment tuition revenue. The purpose of this study, conducted at a small Bible college in the southeastern…

In 2009, Robert Andringa, the former president of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, observed that many Christian colleges were "fragile and on the brink" while facing enormous financial and enrollment challenges (p. 168). The state of most small Christian colleges has not improved since 2009, but it has rather become…

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study is to highlight the characteristics that first-time, first-year students at a small, private, faith-based university in South Florida perceive as part of quality advising, what qualities of advising this group of students perceive as most important for their retention, and whether the advisors…

The purpose of this study was to understand the development of teacher preparation at small denominational colleges. Hope College, a college in the Midwest, was used as an illustrative case study to examine this question. A qualitative organizational analysis using case study methodology was used for this research and followed an interpretive…

The purpose of this mixed-methods research study was to examine the relationships between edTPA and teacher preparedness, perceptions, and performance and to determine whether differences existed in edTPA scores based on preparation path. Participants in this research consisted of 518 teachers who graduated from a small private Christian College…

The purpose of this mixed-methods research study was to examine the relationships between edTPA and teacher preparedness, perceptions, and performance and to determine whether differences existed in edTPA scores based on preparation path. Participants in this research consisted of 518 teachers who graduated from a small private Christian College…

The purpose of this study is to examine support for online learners in higher education programs. More institutions are offering online options due to the COVID 19 pandemic. While the pandemic affects all institutions of higher education, it is a particular challenge for smaller schools who have promoted personalized attention. The study seeks to…

Background/Significance: Self-confidence and self-efficacy among undergraduate nursing students in a simulation are necessary components of measurement within the curriculum. Exploring strategies to improve clinical competence, self-confidence, and knowledge is essential. Local Problem: Currently, faculty within a small faith-based University…

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), there were 3,982 degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the United States in the 2019-2020 school year. Of these, 1,625 were public institutions and another 1,660 were private, nonprofit institutions (four-year and two-year schools). The private, nonprofit sector plays an…

Historically, college and university professors have been known as experts in their respective disciplines but lack training in pedagogy or andragogy. This problem can be particularly impactful at very small colleges where resources for faculty professional development are scarce. Faculty development which creates learning communities encourages…

Students are transferring from community colleges to four-year institutions in increasing numbers, yet transfers are persisting and graduating from four-year institutions at lower levels than students who had begun at the institution. Research suggests that transfer students feel less connected to a four-year institution, and fostering transfer…

Unequitable representation among students of color in higher education remains a persisting challenge. For the few racially and ethnically diverse individuals that make it into college, they are faced with numerous adversities that impede their ability to succeed academically and socially at their institutions, therefore lowering their sense of…

This study investigated the relationship between faculty practices and student engagement at a small, Christian liberal arts university using survey responses from 158 undergraduate students and 47 faculty members. Student engagement was measured by academic involvement (AI), extracurricular involvement (EI), and sense of belonging (SB) [Student…

This qualitative study examined the informal mentoring relationships between faculty and students at two small, faith-based, liberal arts campuses. Perceptions of both faculty and students' views of informal mentoring were studied. The research questions further explored the factors that encouraged or discouraged faculty-student informal mentoring…

The six-year university graduation rate for minority, first-generation, and low-income students is significantly lower than it is for non-minority students, students whose parents went to college, and students from high-income families. The problem addressed in this study was small private, faith-based institutions do not have a viable model for…