The problem investigated in this study was the lack of persistence of 1st-year African American male students at a community college in a southeastern state. In the fall of 2018, only 55% of African American male students progressed through their 1st year compared to 70% of White male students. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore…

In the United States, students often graduate from high school unprepared to succeed in college. In Alabama, fewer than 25% of high school graduates are college ready. Frequently, unprepared students enroll in community colleges, which are tasked to help them transfer to a four-year institution or to enter the workforce. However, students who need…

There is an increasing demand for change in mathematics education to combat deficit-based assumptions towards students of color and promote culturally affirming learning environments (Celedon-Pattichis et al., 2018). Equity-centered mathematics research provides a powerful opportunity to resist these deficit constructions towards marginalized…

This quantitative study examined non-TRIO participating first-generation college students' graduation rates and the impact of academic and social integration in one community college setting. This study used archival data to analyze tutoring, purchasing a meal plan, and living in campus housing. The study used Tinto's (1993) Model of Student…

The purpose of this qualitative study is to determine how four rural school districts in East Tennessee worked to implement the third-grade retention law within their understanding and interpretation of the law to the benefit of the students and overall communities they serve. The study used a semi-structured questionnaire format conducted with a…

In an era where digital platforms increasingly shape the educational experiences of learners, this dissertation examines activity in the Mathematics Discord Server (MDS), an expansive online learning community used by hundreds of thousands of mathematics learners worldwide. Daily interactions, numbering in the tens of thousands, focused on…

This research study aimed to examine the social factors that could influence the academic learning experiences of Latino college students. Latino students are pursuing post-secondary degrees at a higher rate than in previous years. Many Latinos represent their respective family members as the first members of their respective families to attend…

Purpose and Method of Study: This study examined the lived experiences of My Dream students, who were first-generation Latinx students at a community college in northeast Oklahoma, through the lens of Tinto's year persistence theory, CRT, and LatCrit. The My Dream scholarship program was developed to help students who are undocumented or…

This qualitative study aims to understand the experiences of students of color who have completed the transfer-level English class taught utilizing the concurrent model set by AB 705 and whether this model affects their academic success. The problem this study focused on was how equitable access to higher education is for community college…

Understanding the experiences of Indigenous students, especially Indigenous men is crucial to their academic journeys within higher education. Indigenous men walk similar journeys to other students when we arrive on college campuses, choosing to pursue higher learning and reimagine new futures for ourselves and to help our families, communities,…

The problem addressed in this study was that first-generation Latino students underutilize academic support services, which affects college persistence, self-efficacy levels, and help-seeking behaviors. Although higher education institutions offer an array of student support, researchers have found many institutions find that underrepresented…

Research shows that cultural, socioeconomic, and challenging college admission processes are three themes plaguing Latina students pursing higher education. Latinas are faced with familial obligations, strained income gaps, and limited resources supporting their college application process. The purpose of this study was to determine if enrollment…

Purpose: What are the best strategies for teaching Generation 1.5 community college students in transfer-level English courses? Why are some students successful and others not? The purpose of this study was to determine through a phenomenological design how Generation 1.5 students describe the experience of receiving validation or invalidation…

With changes to placement testing and many students being able to self-place into college-level courses, first-year community college students are often entering English composition classes without a strong academic skillset. Tutoring can be a way to support students, but many do not attend tutoring. At a rural community college, students in two…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perception of the experiences of community college students enrolled in a mathematics course with supplemental instruction (SI) attached. This study was conducted at a moderate-sized community college in Maryland. A qualitative research design was used, specifically a systematic approach design.…