Much research has been conducted to indicate that the freshman year of high school has an impact on a student's potential graduation from high school. Existing literature reveals that through the evolution of education in the United States, schools have been forced to place a strong emphasis on graduation. Many factors, including academic success,…

There is an extensive body of school-related shooting research exploring causes, how to recognize a threat, and what preparedness measures are effective (Lee et al., 2020; Muchert, 2007). However, there is insufficient research on how the broader context of school-related shootings in American society has influenced college-aged students. The…

Whereas many college freshmen succeed during their first year, some struggle with transitioning. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive generic study was to examine the difficulties some high school graduates experience adapting to the college social environment. First-year college students often have feelings of homesickness, isolation,…

Research shows that in a traditional college setting, resident assistants (RA) have access to and influence over students in several different ways. RAs are often utilized as academic and campus resources, counselors, problem solvers, and more. RAs have a unique access to students that no other administrator, faculty, or staff member does. Most…

This phenomenological research study investigated how participation in the Educational Opportunity Fund summer bridge program shaped first generation low-income students' learner identity as they entered college. Learner identity is generally defined as a learner's personally and socially constructed roles that influence his or her capacity,…

Although researchers have shown interest in international students regarding their academic performance and on-campus lives since the 1990s, their off-campus lives have received less attention. After a period of isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, countries are resuming social activities and connections, and international students are…

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…

This qualitative, multiple case study examined how peer mentors at a public, four-year university supported the transition of first-year college students. Using Schlossberg's (Anderson et al., 2021) Transition Framework the study was guided by the following questions: 1) How did peer mentors, in light of the Approaching Transitions phase in…

The 1946 GI Bill is widely credited with having created the modern U.S. higher education system, and the Post-9/11 GI Bill led to an expansion of services available to veterans at U.S. colleges and universities and the nonprofit veterans services industry. Despite this, veterans struggle to adapt to civilian society and report a lower sense of…

Black males have the highest dropout rates, poorest achievement, lowest test scores, and the lowest graduation rate among all ethnic groups (Naylor et al., 2015; Whiting, 2009). Drawing upon interviews, this qualitative study explored the experiences and perceptions of African American mentees participating in mentoring programs at two regional…

The continuous influx of international students to the United States brings a diverse set of needs that colleges and universities should continuously attempt to satisfy with appropriate services and instructional practices. Issues affecting globally mobile students need to be addressed for institutions to attract and retain talented and…

First-generation African American students often find it challenging transitioning from high school to college. Despite facing challenges, many of these students enroll and persist to degree attainment. The purpose of this study is to explore the lived experiences of first-generation African American college students at PWIs. This qualitative,…

This qualitative descriptive study explored how first-generation college students (FGCS) describe their academic help-seeking (AHS) processes at a large first-generation college student serving university in Southern California. FGCS are less likely to retain than their counterparts and can benefit from support with academic help-seeking. This…

The purpose of this study was to understand the college transition processes of single mothers attending a 4-year public university. Using a constructivist epistemological paradigm, I employed grounded theory methods to explore how participants interpreted their transition to and through college. Specifically, I aimed to understand the transition…

At the age of 18, foster youth are considered adults and typically released from the state's custody and left alone to transition into adulthood with little to no support. The lack of support that these youth experience forces many of them to seek refuge at colleges and universities. Prior to completing this study, I discovered that there is no…