The primary purpose of this study was to determine the differences in the academic outcomes of first-year academically underprepared TN Promise-eligible college freshmen who participated in a college bridge program. A comparative research design was applied to existing data, including first-semester GPA, first-semester credit completion rate,…

The purpose of this study was to determine if Appreciative Inquiry affects assessment scores of middle school students, grades 6-8. The data used in this study was collected from a cohort of students impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic school shutdowns with inconsistent return to structured, continuous in school routines. The data used in this study…

It is not known how ninth-grade regular education teachers perceive the unique stressors and challenges for students with autism spectrum disorders transitioning from middle school to high school. In addition, it is not understood how ninth-grade regular education teachers perceive their role integrated in the overall support system from parents…

Asian American college student success has traditionally been framed from a perspective of successful academic performance and degree completion that perpetuates the model minority stereotype and overlooks the actual challenges they may experience in college. Many bicultural Asian American students manage the individual and family acculturation…

Transition planning for students in special education is mandated by IDEA law. However as with many areas of special education, its implementation varies from school district to school district and even differs among different case managers and students within a district. Furthermore, little is known about the effectiveness of transition planning…

College enrollment rates have increased over the past 30 years, but there continue to be gaps in college enrollment as well as graduation rates across demographics such as socioeconomic status and race. This is a social justice issue that affects the population of this study, which focuses on graduates of Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School…

The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore and discover the transition practices of special education leaders who work with students with disabilities (SWD) during the elementary to middle school transitional period. The transitional year between elementary and middle school has been described as difficult due to many reasons. The…

Students who transfer from a community college to a four-year university have a singular path to travel. Researchers have studied this population for several decades. This research dissertation has built on the findings of these pioneers in the field of transfer student persistence. As a result of this study, two additional pieces of the transfer…

There is a lack of literature examining the lived experience of Chinese international students. Literature often groups international students or Asian international students into a homogenous category despite their unique differences. The present study utilized a semi-structured interview conducted in Mandarin to explore the lived experiences of…

The focus of the current study was to explore and describe the shared experiences of international students as they adapted academically and socially to a Christian university in North Texas. The research focus resulted from the gap identified in the literature review: the lack of knowledge about the experiences of international students as they…

Statement of the Problem: This study aimed to understand the impact of exposure to ACEs in childhood on college attainment in adulthood and if safe, stable, and nurturing relationships (SSNRs) in childhood mitigate the risks of exposure to trauma through a contextual lens by exploring results by race/ethnicity and gender. Research: Exposure to…

Occupational therapists work with special education and general education students in public school settings to address the students' ability to fully participate in the educational environment. While existing literature focuses on the role of the occupational therapist in school-based practice, as well as teachers' perceptions of that role, there…

Transition from high school to college has been highly researched and shown to be a necessary process toward college success. Research on understanding the transition process from a military career to college success has been much newer and sparser; making the understanding of factors predicting college success limited. One psychological…

Sense of belonging is an important construct that has been understudied in college student development. Prior research suggests that undergraduate students' sense of belonging plays a key role in persistence and degree completion. In this study, I test the assertion that sense of belonging stems from developmental tasks that are typically salient…

Students who do not experience a successful transition from middle school to high school are at risk for repeating ninth grade and possibly dropping out of high school. The purpose of this study was to better understand how extracurricular activity participation, focusing on marching band participation, impacts ninth grade transition. Guided by by…