This study explored the differences in student success outcomes between students enrolled in non-STEM and STEM corequisite mathematics courses at 18 postsecondary institutions across five academic years in West Virginia, using de-identified student data. The researcher analyzed this extant data to determine if student characteristics were…

In the United States, previous and current data state that Black males have the lowest persistence and graduation rates in higher education institutions among all student populations. Black men in public four-year colleges and universities are generally the lowest-performing male group. According to the US Department of Education, only 38.6% of…

This quantitative study investigated the impact of campus climate on the ethnic identity development and sense of belonging among Middle Eastern and North African/Southwest Asian and North African (MENA/SWANA) college students. This student population has largely been absent from research due to their classification as White in the U.S. Census and…

This study examined the factors that predict the likelihood of a first-time freshman (FTF) student retaining and graduating in a timely manner at the University of Kansas (KU) based on their perceptions of the frequency and quality of student-faculty engagement, with an emphasis on exploring differences between underrepresented minority students…

This dissertation examines the support structures available to students with disabilities (SWDs) in three public universities in Ghana and assesses their relationships with the well-being of these students. The research highlights the essential role of socio-emotional and academic support in enhancing SWDs' success and well-being within higher…

National, state, and institutional data has indicated years of minimal increases in persistence; all while institutions continue to implement new strategies that they believe will increase persistence. What institutions often lack is understanding the lived experiences of first-time-in-college students who successfully persisted from their first…

While several studies have discussed the existence of internalized oppression and the residuum of anti-Blackness at Black colleges and universities (learning spaces originally intended for Black scholarship), detailed experiences with and consequences of this phenomenon are not common. Using emergent design, this critical ethnography will examine…

Due to the lack of a pronunciation curriculum and materials in Saudi universities, EFL students individually select use different resources to help with their English pronunciation difficulties. Therefore, this study aims to describe: (a) Saudi students' perspectives and attitudes toward pronunciation resources that may help with their…

Many developmental and proactive advising approaches used when working with students in academic difficulty emphasize the importance of students' behavioral change but rarely address societal and institutional barriers that contribute to their poor performance. With the lingering effects of a national pandemic, unstable economy, political…

Sexual violence on college campuses is a salient threat to the health and well-being of students in higher education. Title IX legislation was developed to address and help reduce sex-based discrimination, including incidences of sexual violence, on college campuses. However, existing data suggests that a relatively small number of campus…

As the adult learner population in higher education continues to increase, there has been a renewed focus on how to best serve this student population in recent years. While adult learners are more likely to take online classes and to enroll part-time, engagement and retention efforts have not heavily focused on part-time online adult learners,…

The primary purpose of this study was to determine if there was a statistically significant difference in the bachelor's degree graduation rates of three groups of undergraduate students at a regional, public university in Kentucky. The three groups consisted of those registered with disability services, those registered with disability services…

Two-year state and community colleges provide convenient and affordable educational opportunities with open admissions policies, which make them "value-added institutions that are uniquely different than traditional colleges and universities" (Grubbs, 2020, p. 205). Students across the nation enroll in 2-year colleges to pursue their…

The American higher education industry is undergoing severe changes, including financial exigency, decreased state/federal assistance, and increased tuition. While the former changes are relatively apparent, one other change deserves more attention -- the growth of adult learners, specifically females. The seeming lackluster response by…

Using Constructivist Grounded Theory (CGT) and reflexive Thematic Analysis (TA) methods, the purpose of this case study was to construct theory about equity for students studying chemistry at public universities in Colorado. Interviews with students (N=12), chemistry instructors (N=9), and equity practitioners (N=9) as well as observations of…