The purpose of this study was to explore and hear the student military veterans' perceptions on what they felt was instrumental to their success in higher education. Previous studies investigated veterans' experiences but very little investigated what SMVs found helpful during their collegiate experience. This mixed methods research employed a…

In recent years, there has been an increased interest in studying military-connected children (Aronson & Perkins, 2012; Chawla & Solinas-Suanders, 2011; DePedro et al., 2011). Despite being the subject of much research, there exists a significant gap in the research literature concerning the voices of military-connected children. The 2019…

The purpose of this study is to explore the perceptions of academic student support program leadership regarding best practices, experiences, and behaviors that influence their work toward retention and graduation efforts. Three research questions resulted from the study's purpose: (a) What are program directors' perceptions regarding their…

Higher education institutions have strategically and circumspectly managed the responsibility for students' wellness by departmentalizing mental health support into voluntary services led by the university counseling and wellness departments. Departments such as counseling wellness, academic advisement, and student engagement are just some of the…

The problem addressed in this study was that online graduate students are not always clear about the role that academic support may serve in their online education, which may contribute to them not seeking support, even when it is needed. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory single case study was to explore student and coach perceptions…

This qualitative phenomenological study explored how college students with disabilities (SWDs) accessed accommodations from their universities and their perceptions of service delivery by university faculty and staff. An additional purpose of this study was to seek the type and effectiveness of accommodations received by college SWDs. I recruited…

This phenomenological investigation examined the experiences and knowledge of high school counselors in advising student-athletes on the NCAA college transition process. The study sought to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges, successes, and experiences of school counselors in supporting student-athletes during a critical transition…

Students attending a community college in an urban setting plagued by violence are subject to experiencing or witnessing one or more traumatic events. The purpose of this action research study was to increase faculty and staff's understanding of the prevalence of trauma, how it may manifest at colleges within students, oneself, classrooms, and…

This dissertation shines a light on the indomitable spirit of African American male students, who exhibit remarkable resilience despite facing persistent challenges such as underrepresentation, academic underachievement, and racial and socioeconomic disparities. It delves into the critical role of programs and services in promoting academic…

This hermeneutic phenomenological study aimed to explore the experiences of community college professors working with dual-credit high school students in northern Texas. Vygotsky's sociocultural theory guided the study to delve into the professors' experiences working with dual-credit high school students. The central research question of this…

Most higher education institutions in the United States are bound to the triad's regulations, but their methods for integrating external policies with internal ones are unstudied. Employing a single-case, embedded design, this qualitative study centers on a midsize public, research institution in the eastern United States to explore how one higher…

Disparities in academic performance and degree attainment continue to affect systemically marginalized (SM) college students. Amidst these persistent inequities, this qualitative study aimed to better understand how SM students at a competitive university navigated their choice to engage with support and how they conceptualized success. The study…

As higher education faces challenges in low enrollment, soaring prices, and individuals who question the need for a degree, these institutions must transform into flexible-minded and innovative centers of excellence. The purpose of this study is to explore how empathetic and collaborative practices inherent in design thinking methodologies can…

While the number of individuals in the United States between the ages of 25-44 with a bachelor's degree has been increasing, so too has the number of individuals who have started college and dropped out. Higher education has numerous societal and individual benefits that are not being actualized because there are simply not enough individuals with…

Alternative education is broadly defined in the United States and includes variability around reasons for enrolling, choice in attending, and experiences once enrolled. In order to better understand these factors within alternative schools, this qualitative interview study, based in critical theory, included 22 current and former students from 12…