The Division of Student Engagement and Enrollment Services at Old Dominion University (ODU) submitted a Request for Assistance to examine the challenges sophomore students face that can lead to attrition. A doctoral research team conducted a exploratory, sequential, mixed-methods study consisting of a literature review, focus groups and interviews…

Racial and ethnic minority groups face extraordinary challenges in access to and success in higher education due to the complicated history of racism in the US educational system and society. This thesis focuses on past and current practices that affect educational equity, college completion, and post-undergraduate success for Black…

Students with disabilities have the right to free and appropriate education, but there are still challenges for students with disabilities. Transition from one level of education to the next can present challenges to students with disabilities, especially from middle to high school. Although this transition time comes with challenges, there may be…

The purpose of this study was to examine lived experiences of first and second generation Black African immigrant undergraduate students in regard to self-identification and education achievement and to explore the support that these students need for a smooth bridging of cultural differences between their homes and school. The data were collected…

The present study investigated whether discrepancies between retrospectively recalled pre-migration expectations and post-migration experiences on the basis of expectancy violation theory (EVT) would be a strong predictor of acculturative stress. The sample consisted of random Hispanic international students (N = 77) across different regions in…

First-generation college students enter higher education with an inherited disadvantage compared to continuing generation college students. Because their parents or guardians did not attend college, first-generation students are limited in cultural capital directly related to higher education. Additionally, because institutional processes are…

This study investigated and analyzed how lateral transfer students who commute to college made sense of their transition and belonging between four-year institutions. Based on student mobility patterns, the lateral transfer population exceeds the number of community college transfers within the landscape of higher education. Colleges need to…

The purpose of this study was to explore ninth grade teachers' perspectives' of a small learning community and its impact on student connectivity, transition and dropout. The following overarching research question framed this study: (Given the 15-year history of this freshman academy, what are the teachers' perspectives on the impact of a small…

This phenomenological case study explored lived experiences of women student veterans in a college setting. Through in-depth interviews, women student veterans described their transition from their military experience to enrollment. Further, participants discussed their experiences and perceptions of campus veteran support (e.g. student veteran…

Internationalization at institutions of higher education in the United States results in greater linguistic diversity of the student body. Admission policies for international students include English proficiency standards which are meant to ensure that multilingual students for whom English is an additional language can function linguistically in…

Recent data indicate a drop in the enrollment and re-enrollment of international students at colleges and universities in the United States. Campus climates and cultures, specifically the historically grounded facet of these climates and cultures, remained unexplored as a possible cause. This ethnographic case study's purpose sought to explore the…

Latinx individuals currently make up 16 % of the overall U.S. labor market and will account for one out of every two new workers entering the workforce by 2025 (Coulombe & Gil, 2016). By 2050, Latinx individuals will comprise 30% of the labor force based on the increasing Latinx K12 population (Carnevale & Strohl, 2013). Latinx FGC…

This research inquiry is a narrative case study centered on uncovering or exploring the educational experiences of a local African immigrant high school student. This study's epistemological framework is centered on critical race theory, third space theory and the theory of hybrid or multiple identities. In addition to discussing relevant extant…

This study aimed at understanding the adjustment experiences of Zimbabwean international students as they study in the United States and exploring their perception of United States mental health counseling. Qualitative inquiry (basic interpretive approach) was selected as the research method due to the explorative nature of the research questions.…

As students transition from one phase of the education pipeline to the next, support programs are often put in place to make the transition and onboarding process as smooth as possible. While support programs for first-year students entering college directly from high school are common place at most institutions, onboarding practices for transfer…