The unemployment rate for autistic young adults after high school graduation is higher than for all other populations with disabilities. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires transition planning as part of an individualized education plan (IEP) starting no later than age 16. There is evidence, however, that autistic…

The devastating effects of the Novel Coronavirus and the impact that stay-at-home orders and mask mandates have placed on businesses have caused countries to plummet into economic recession. State quarantine measures and the fear of contracting the virus have led to structural change, resulting in more people enlisting on welfare rolls. The…

Most undergraduate students enroll in college with the aim of securing a professional career after graduation; however, not all students achieve this goal. Prior research has explored whether career outcomes differ between students of varying academic and demographic backgrounds, but few studies have examined whether first-generation status is…

This study sought to provide an examination of the instructional design strategies used in an entrepreneurship clinic (EC) and determine their influence on the post-graduation outcomes of its alumni. The conceptual lens for the study comprised Merrill's (2002) first principles of instruction and Lent et al.'s (1994) social cognitive career theory…

This dissertation comprises three chapters. The first two address issues within the education system, focusing on strategies to attract and retain high-quality teachers in the public sector. The third chapter, a collaborative effort with Martin Martinez and Miguel Saldarriaga, explores the application of machine learning tools for nowcasting…

Academic tracking has long been a subject of debate due to its potential impact on educational equity, with students who are tracked highly receiving a higher quality education in comparison to students tracked lowly. These disparities in education quality may be affecting students' outcomes, as it has been demonstrated that the short-term…

Although the accounting community has been collaborating for decades to address a lack of progress in closing the gap between accounting theory and practice, shortcomings in accounting education quality persist. Prior research has focused on the perceptions of students, faculty, and employers, but there is a scarcity of published work on recent…

This dissertation studies the effects of China's higher education expansion reform on workers' labor market outcomes. In Chapter 1, I investigate how China's higher education expansion reform affects young workers' labor market outcomes. Using data from the 2005 China Population Survey, I estimate the effects of the reform using a diff-in-diff…

The purpose of this phenomenological narrative study was to explore experiences that influence international students' decisions after graduation regarding location and career selections. Interviews with the eight participants were analyzed to understand the common meaning of their experiences of a concept or phenomenon. Results of the study…

Accepting applicants with the highest probability of success is a priority for admission committees in institutions of higher education. For programs with limited capacity, selecting candidates with the greatest potential for successful completion of the program and becoming eligible for employment is crucial. Admission criteria that best predicts…

How do teachers affect students' academic and labor market outcomes? Research into teacher quality has been thoroughly scrutinized for the K-12 sector, while there is a requirement for examining these questions at post-secondary education level. In the past few decades, several important trends of faculty employment among higher education…

This gap analysis project examines the root causes to identify and analyze the existing barrier preventing graduates of a technical institution in Brunei: Mechanical Training Centre (MTC). The study applies Clark and Estes' Gap Analysis Model and approach used to define MTC's organizational goals and identify the gap that exists between actual…

The dynamics of state funding for public higher education in the United States are changing. Per-student state appropriations to higher education have decreased over the past few decades and have become increasingly volatile from year to year. As public higher education institutions seek ways to educate more students with fewer and less…

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) outcome data from the Rehabilitation Services Administration were used to examine age as a predictor of employment outcomes for transition-age youth with significant disabilities. Employment outcomes were examined with regard to type of VR case closure achieved and wages earned. Age at application for VR services was…

Purpose: The purpose of this Delphi study was to explore single-parent nontraditional student experiences within nontraditional university classroom environments and to determine methods for providing better support within the classroom setting. Methodology: The Delphi technique was conducted through 3 survey rounds to explore ways professors and…