Underrepresented groups on college campuses, first-generation college students (FGCS) face several obstacles which put them at risk of developing Impostor Phenomenon (IP). Research has shown that IP can negatively affect performance, lend to burnout and withdrawal, hinder individuals' abilities to properly assess performance, and inhibit one's…

Teaching and learning have been impacted by rapidly emerging technological innovations in today's 21st century academic paradigm (Saykili, 2019). It has been challenging to integrate technology into fundamental education in a manner that effectively promotes student learning since it has developed rapidly (Saykili, 2019). Additionally, given the…

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant financial impact on land-grant historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, which have historically faced underfunding by their respective state governments. This study examined the issue of low engagement rates and alumni giving among former…

Undergraduate Research (UR) is a high-impact practice that results in positive outcomes for participants, such as improved academic skills and intellectual development as well as higher graduation rates and graduate school attendance. This research project compares the UR participation patterns of students with learning disabilities (LD) and their…

This dissertation addressed the underrepresentation of African American women attaining doctoral degrees at universities across the nation. It also explored the McNair Scholars Program, and the role the program played in preparing African American female students for graduate school and completion of the doctoral degree. In line with the…

The increasing demand for a computationally trained workforce that reflects Latinx population growth in America has encouraged institutions to revisit exclusionary practices and develop initiatives that support Latinx undergraduate student persistence in Computer Science (CS). CS is necessary not only to keep pace with the rapid change in…

Identification of novel fermenting yeast is beneficial to the brewing industry to develop innovations in flavor or processes. In addition, there is a growing interest in sour beers, which are traditionally produced with bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Pediococcus. Here, we characterize a novel yeast, lab strain 'GY7B', and its ability to…

A well-established conceptualization of academic capitalism is rooted in the marriage of economic theory and critical social. Significantly, academic capitalism links economic dimensions with the political-ideological transformations of U.S. society associated with the fall of communism and the rise of neoliberalism. Academic capitalism is based…

Within the last decade, scholars of color have researched and advocated for better support for first-generation, Latine students, in particular through the critical analysis of the impact of the campus racial climate (Franklin et al., 2014; Huerta & Fishman, 2014; Hurtado & Alvarado, 2015; Kouyoumdijan et al., 2017). These reimagined…

This dissertation study delved into how three undergraduate teacher education programs were preparing pre-service teachers with the skills necessary to implement standards-based grading in PK-12 educational environments. As educational assessment has evolved toward systems that emphasize mastery, equity, and transparency, it became critical for…

The COVID-19 pandemic forced educators across the world to quickly move their instruction to a virtual or hybrid environment. Teachers experienced a wide variety of adverse situations stemming from teaching online, and their experiences depended upon their technology training as well as their access to technology resources. The problem addressed…

Secondary piano and music theory are typically taught in two parallel and required sequences within the Undergraduate Music Major curriculum. The overlapping concepts presented in these sequences provide frequent opportunities for mutual reinforcement; however, due to a variety of issues, course content is not always aligned across theory and…

Social media is an emerging teaching strategy encouraging student collaboration while learning. However, the literature is lacking regarding the use of social media for teaching and learning with today's generation of learners. The purpose of this case study, with a quantitative and qualitative component, was to examine the effects of…

Within the international higher education community there is not a system nor gold standard to identify the value of higher education institutions (HEIs). For the current research, the definition of value was determined through quantitative methods considering utility and cost. The research problem underscored the importance of valuing…

Due to recent mandates of the 2015 Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Educational Policies and Accreditation Standards, social work ethics education has received considerable attention. These standards have increased the focus on ethical education requirements in bachelor's and master's curricula. However, research regarding approaches that…