Sadly, an enduring legacy of the United States is inequities between groups of people based on their skin color. These inequities are ingrained within the educational system, such as a lack of opportunities and interventions and significant gaps in support and resources that target underserved populations. The problem that this study addressed was…

There was a recognized high rate of students enrolled in technology programs who did not graduate college. Scholars who had studied predictors of college completion surmised there were several behavioral traits associated with a student achieving their college objectives through graduation; one of those factors was persistence. Persistence, the…

K-12 schools in Ohio are partially evaluated on their ability to successfully graduate students with their four-year cohort. Educators have been tasked with improving graduation rates. This study examined one urban high school to understand and provide insights to increase its graduation rate. This school recently received a poor score from the…

The student retention of freshman students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities as of recent has been comparably low which leads to low graduation rates. To understand this phenomenon, there is a need to investigate the factors that impact the enrollment and retention of freshman students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.…

Students leaving institutions of higher education prior to graduation leads to millions of dollars in lost revenue (Sutter & Paulsen, 2016; Undergraduate Retention and Graduation Rates, 2018). Retention theorists Tinto (1975) and Kuh (2008) recommend practices such as academic interaction, social interaction, faculty engagement with students,…

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to describe the academic experiences of low socioeconomic status ESL learners enrolled in a mid-sized urban community college located in Pennsylvania. The theory that guided this study is Walberg's theory on educational productivity, as it looks at how learners' psychological…

With a decade-long stagnant 34% Black male college graduation rate, there was little understanding of how and why Black male initiatives, designed to improve Black male persistence and graduation in 4-year colleges, affected retention and graduation-related behaviors, as understood by the Black male participants in such initiatives. This…

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…

The challenge of increasing the number of minority students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) degrees is a systemic problem. In the case of higher education, one of the main challenges also includes the retention of academically prepared minority students who are underrepresented in STEM degree programs. President Barack Obama…

For-profit colleges and universities have gained considerable popularity over the last two decades due to an increase in non-traditional student enrollment, a rise in the availability of federal aid and student loans, and a proliferation of online courses (Cellini, 2021; Domnisoru & Schiopu, 2021). Despite increased interest in online programs…

This research aligned with protocols established by the Florida Board of Governors in 2016 to form a new funding model tied to the institution's performance. The literature review highlighted a disparity between students' expectations and the reality of college which could negatively impact persistence, and therefore funding to the institution.…

Earning a degree in higher education provides additional employment choices for every college student. It is an important factor for sustaining future earnings and job stability. The general problem is deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals face higher unemployment and underemployment rates than hearing peers. The specific problem addressed was how…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to understand how low-income Black male community college students who attend a male engagement program describe their experiences with the intersection of race and gender plays a role in their persistence towards graduating in Midwest, Ohio. Through 45-120-minute, semi-structured, open-ended,…

This mixed methods case study examined the intervention strategy of a veteran transfer success course (TS 250) offered at West University. The study examined the TS 250 course and how it contributes to student success by creating a sense of belonging and easing the transition from service to university. The mixed methods study utilized student…

This study aimed to investigate and improve the persistence of first-generation college students at a mid-size, private school in the Northeast. Many institutions treat their students equally, thinking that adopting this stance will be equitable. Unfortunately, a blanket approach to student services can sometimes render inequities among groups…