This qualitative narrative study aimed to explore the impact of the tutor-student relationship on students' perceptions of belonging in community colleges. This study employed a qualitative narrative approach to understand a distinct phenomenon: the influence of the student-tutor relationship on the sense of belonging among community college…

This study, using feminist trauma theory as the conceptual framework, addressed a gap in the literature about female university students' experiences with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to the academic and social supports needed for college success and degree completion. Nearly 30% of college students will drop out during their 1st…

There is a persistent and growing global call to examine, challenge, and transform exclusionary structures and systems within mathematics education (Laursen & Austin, 2020; Reinholz et al., 2019; Thomas & Drake, 2016; Wagner et al., 2020). An important component of this call examines students' mathematical identity. While a growing body of…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how nontraditional college students describe the influence of academic integration and commitment for persistence to degree completion at universities in the United States. Tinto's theory of student retention served as the theoretical framework. Two research questions guided data…

This study examined whether the physical location of student support services on a college campus influences the utilization of those services, and if so, whether access to those services relates to student retention. The primary purpose of this study was to better understand whether service utilization, based on location, can and should be…

Although the body of literature examining the identified barriers that hinder African American college students from participating in internships and their underrepresentation in these opportunities is increasing, it is limited. Research that examines the institutional and academic factors that influence their participation in academic internships…

The history of academic intervention demonstrates multiple long-standing methods to address students' with disabilities academic shortcomings. Educators have wrestled with implementing interventions to best serve students with disabilities at the federal, state, and local levels. Many programs have received funding. However, students with…

Teen pregnancy has been an issue in the United States for many years, and the rate of teenage births is substantially higher in the United States than in other Western countries. Although the national teen pregnancy rate has declined over the last two decades, it is still a relevant issue. According to the Centers for Disease Control and…

This study discusses the dilemma facing low-income and first-generation potential college students, and how the College Reach-Out Program (CROP) can help. The problem to be addressed in this study was how low-income and first-generation potential college students perceived their lived experiences in CROP on their college readiness, academically,…

Latina community college students face significant barriers in achieving their educational goals, particularly transferring to 4-year institutions. Despite comprising a large and growing demographic within community colleges, their unique needs and experiences often remain unaddressed. This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of…

American-Indian and Alaska Native students attending Midwestern Regional University (MRU) are experiencing graduation rates lower than the national average. This dissertation in practice attempts to solve this real-world problem by providing a voice for the indigenous students at MRU so that services and policies can be adjusted to increase the…

The research presented here was completed in partial fulfillment for the doctorate in education degree for the University of Dayton school of Education and Health Sciences. This research identified a problem in practice at the University of Akron of declining international student enrollment, sense of satisfaction, and feelings of institutional…

Previous research has shown that Black males do not find schools to be safe spaces or places where they feel a sense of belonging. Instead, they do not feel welcomed (Brooms, 2019a). If students must spend 8 to 9 hours in a place daily, we will want that space to be somewhere they want to be. Findings from research conducted by Collins et al.…

This dissertation investigated the persistence of African American college students with disabilities in higher education, focusing on academic, social, and institutional factors influencing their success. Using a qualitative approach and insights from interviews; findings revealed that comprehensive academic support services, social integration,…

California community colleges are undergoing massive systemwide policy reform with the goal of transformational change that increases student success. Their open-access nature makes them the most accessible higher education system for historically underserved communities. As a result, community colleges serve as a gateway to higher education for…