Maintaining a racially and ethnically diverse faculty is a powerful tool in attracting, retaining, and graduating students of color and provides a host of educational benefits, yet institutions struggle to overcome complex challenges in recruiting and retaining faculty members from diverse backgrounds. The research literature has often cited the…

The purpose of this study was to explore perceptions of safety, determine the factors that impacted student perceptions of campus safety, and to determine whether perceptions of campus safety had an impact on student engagement in campus and student activities. Campus safety and student engagement were analyzed through a literature review.…

The purpose of this study was to examine of stereotype vulnerability, sense of belonging and campus climate for African American college students at a Predominately White Institution (PWI) in the Southeast. This research used a sociocultural model to explore African American student perceptions at a PWI in the southeast of the United States. This…

The 2007 mass shooting at Virginia Tech is one part of a decades-long increase in the frequency of gun violence on U.S. college and university campuses (Drysdale, Modzeleski, & Simons, 2010; Ferraro, 2015). The events at Virginia Tech also served as a catalyst for the spread of so-called "campus-carry" laws, or acts of state policy…

This qualitative study examined the perceptions of nontraditional developmental education students on the fidelity of a supplemental instruction program in a community college setting. This study was motivated by two research questions: What are non-traditional supplemental instruction (NTSI) students' perceptions of their experiences in the…

Adverse life events that occur in childhood may decrease an individual's ability to effectively cope with challenges throughout their lives. The proper management of stress is essential to avoid problems that can crop up in all areas of life. College students who employ stress management tactics are better able to achieve well-being and academic…

Undocumented Latino students who enroll in and attend colleges and universities face a multitude of barriers and often must navigate complex situations and structures that make them more vulnerable of not completing their education (Diaz-Strong & Meiners, 2007). When undocumented students attend colleges and universities, they often encounter…

An increasing number of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are transitioning into adulthood and entering postsecondary education. For both typical individuals and individuals with ASD, a college education and experience is linked to improved outcomes in employment, personal skill building, integration into a meaningful community, and…

Despite existing and emerging research on the experiences of racially minoritized faculty members in the academy, little scholarship addresses how Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs) cultivate campus environments that support the success of racially minoritized faculty members. Utilizing the Culturally Engaging Campus Environments (CECE) model…

Despite decades of research on student involvement, few studies have examined how co-curricular experiences promote holistic student success outcomes. Fewer still have differentiated the characteristics of co-curricular involvement to determine practices most likely to predict student success. This study investigates the relationship between the…

Historically, special populations of students have had accelerated challenges during their pursuit for education (Russell, Toomey, Ryan, & Diaz, 2014). These accelerated challenges have included, communication barriers due to cultural differences, receiving harsher punishments than other students, and feeling out of place (Russell et al.,…

This hermeneutic phenomenological study used a black feminist framework to explore mentoring relationships for black women pursuing undergraduate degrees at Predominately White Institutions (PWIs). The purpose of this study was to help to uncover the mentoring needs and wants of black women undergraduate students at PWIs. This study provides…

International students' enrollment has continuously increased over the past decade. According to the Open Doors Annual Report, published and distributed by Institute for International Education (IIE, 2016), more than one million international students studied in the United States from 2015--2016; according to the same report, international…

This qualitative study, "An Exploration of the Institutional Factors that Influence the Engagement of Transgender College Students", investigates the ways in which four transgender college students at a private institution in Louisville, KY engage with their campus, specifically in the areas of academic challenge, campus environment, and…

Though there has been a great deal of research on the transition into college, there has been relatively little research on the transition out of college. This is particularly true in relation to theatre arts majors. Though recent graduates face many challenges post-college, there has been minimal exploration done on how graduates experience…