Despite increased college enrollment rates among FGAMFCS, these students face substantial challenges that contribute to lower rates of graduation compared to their peers from other ethnic backgrounds. Based on Tinto's Student Integration Model, this study examines the persistence of FGAMFCS at Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs) in the United…

The increasing prevalence of single-parent households, particularly among Black single mothers, presents unique challenges in higher education. Historically Black Community Colleges (HBCCs) serve a significant proportion of non-traditional students, including single parents. However, little research addresses how HBCC leadership can effectively…

Hispanics are the fastest-growing minority in the US, over the last decade, the Hispanic population went from 50.5 million in 2010 to 62.1 million in 2020. Hispanics were responsible for 51% of the entire U.S. population growth during that period. Despite this population surge, Hispanic students, faculty, and leaders continue to be…

This quantitative, correlational study investigated the predictive relationship between servant leadership characteristics of Servant TRIO SSS advisors and first-generation students' college adjustment and semester persistence. A total of 310 first-generation students in TRIO SSS programs within the United States participated in the study.…

Limited research exists relating to the development and initial implementation of new higher education policies during a crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic took the world by surprise, and higher education leaders found themselves adjusting traditional roles and services to help students and staff navigate the crisis. Multiple streams policy theory,…

Higher education institutions in the United States currently face ongoing challenges and difficulties beginning in 2008 with the fiscal crisis which created a need for education and retraining for man, demand for greater accountability by institutions and a fundamental shift in the perceived value of higher education. Academic leaders of…

Since 2001, over two million children have experienced having one or both of their parents deployed (Tunac de Pedro et al., 2018). There is significant research that shows that "military children experience tremendous psychological strain as a result of stressful military related life events" (Tunac de Pedro et al., 2011, p. 567). The…

Students with significant support needs (SSN) have often been denied the breadth and depth of literacy instruction compared to their nondisabled peers. However, exposure to academic literacy increases when students with SSN are educated with their peers without disabilities within inclusive settings. While exposure is the first step to accessing…

Adult college students face unique challenges that can derail their dreams of completing a degree or certificate program. The problem addressed in this study was that, although postsecondary institutions in Tennessee have been tasked with equipping at least 55% of adult residents with a college degree or certificate by the year 2025, some college…

This dissertation explores how student support services (SSS) within the K-12 ecosystem's relationship with technology, or cyberpsychology, has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic grounded in the ecological systems theory (EST) framework. The first article investigated professional school counselors' use of technology for communication to meet…

College retention is a topic of concern for many leaders of post-secondary institutions. This study explores the multifaceted elements of a summer bridge program aimed at bolstering college retention for minority first-generation students through a combination of mentorship, academic support, and community-building initiatives. The purpose of the…

Retention is a continuing concern for institutions of higher education, especially rural community colleges. Students are often not prepared for the rigor of college-level coursework, encounter academic and/or life obstacles, or do not possess the soft skills needed to succeed in college life. Research has shown that college-preparation courses…

This dissertation investigated the impact of fee-based individualized academic support programs on the attitudes of college students with disclosed disabilities toward retention and belonging. The study took place at two public, midsize, state universities located in the Midwestern region of the United States. The research was grounded in William…

Students identified as first-generation often intersect with other factors such as enrollment in community colleges, low income, minority ethnic and/or race identities, low expectations of college-going, and less academic preparation (Cataldi et al., 2018; Redford & Mulvaney-Hoyer, 2017). In 2015, national completion rates in the United States…

Belonging-centered academic environments have been positively associated with increased academic achievement, engagement, and persistence. Yet, belonging is a context-driven construct, indicating that there may be differences in what an individual construes as a belonging-supportive versus belonging-thwarting environment. Therefore, when…