This correlational research study examined simultaneously the following, with regards to the outcome variable of whether students fulfilled their educational expectations 8 years after graduating high school across a nationally representative sample of participants: (1) the extent to which parents' academic expectations predict students'…

Enrollment of vertical transfer students across four-year colleges and universities has been increasing over the past decade (Shapiro et al., 2018). From 2012 to 2017, data from the Beginning Postsecondary Students (BPS) survey showed that White students represented the largest group of transfers to four-year colleges and universities. Racial and…

The purpose of this study was to understand the motivating factors behind U.S. Army Signal Corps senior noncommissioned officers' decisions to pursue or not pursue a college education. This study also explored how senior leaders throughout the command perceived the roles and organizational benefits of college education to U.S. Army Signal Corps…

High school administrators, teachers, coaches, and guidance counselors, collectively termed as educators, are responsible for educating teenage students while preparing them for adult life. High school students culminate their education not just with a diploma, but also a decision about what to pursue as an adult. Although there is a common desire…

Federal government policies have shifted the financial burdens of paying for college away from the public (e.g., grants and scholarships) to more onus placed on students and their families (Elliott & Friedline, 2013; Robb, 2011). However, budget cuts due to economic challenges often increase tuition rates (Orfield, 2002) that outpace what…

Despite research (Cormier et al., 2022; Lindsay & Hart, 2017) highlighting the positive impact Black male educators have on Black students, and Black male students in particular, the representation of Black, non-Hispanic male teachers in the U.S. public and private K-12 teaching workforce remains notably low at 1.3% (Taie & Lewis, 2022).…

This qualitative grounded theory study delves into the profound impact of the Coronavirus Disease Pandemic (COVID-19) on Black working mothers, shedding light on its consequences on their pursuit of education and mental well-being. While prior research has explored the effects of COVID-19 on Black working mothers, this study focuses on the…

Concern over falling retention rates at community colleges is not new; however, declines in success rates for mature English language learners (ELLs) in credit English as a second language (CESL) programs has become even more pronounced. The purpose of this mixed-method action research was to investigate the impact of a classroom intervention and…

Grade 7 students are not college-ready because they do not have skills for applying, accessing, or identifying their college needs. Students do not know the opportunities and resources available to help gain acceptance into college and feel they cannot apply for college due to financial, academic, career, or personal reasons. Districts fall short…

Upward transfer is the process by which students begin their higher education at a Community College or other two-year institution and then transfer to a four-year institution to complete their bachelor degree. Community Colleges enroll 45% of all undergraduates in the United States, or approximately 7.7 million students (AACC, 2015). From their…

The purpose of this quasi-mixed methods study was to explore how African American males' psychosocial factors impacted their motivation to pursue a postsecondary education and if differences existed between the demographic variables and external psychosocial factors of African American males who pursued a postsecondary education and those who did…

This study will investigate the relationship between Black males' self-efficacy, college aspirations, and college attendance. Researchers have examined self-efficacy among racial groups and gender (Richardson et al., 2013). Yet, the researcher is interested in examining factors that relate to Black males aspiring to and attending college and the…

Research has shown that experiences that occur during adolescence directly affect an individual well into adulthood. There is still much to understand in terms of how those factors, adverse or benevolent, influence career decision-making in the future. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study is to explore how young adults describe the…

It has been reported that former foster care alumni aspire to attend college and graduate. However, the intent of those aspirations and the reality of those aspirations differ greatly. Many former foster care alumni do not make it to graduation. The purpose of this case study is to explore how an exemplar support program helps their former foster…

The problem addressed by this proposed study is that nontraditional African-American female college students in the United States experience more underlying issues with balancing the demands of work, school, and life than their non-minority peers. The proposed quantitative, correlational study investigated if and to what extent a relationship…