The distinctive characteristics and learning needs of Generation Z students present unique challenges to faculty in higher education. Factors such as faculty teaching styles and availability of learning resources impact academic success for all students. However, Generations Zers' 8-second attention spans; aversion to lengthy reading assignments;…

This qualitative study explores the retrospective sensemaking of Black1 girls and Latinas in their interactions with school security guards and School Resource Officers (SROs). Seven Black women and two Latinas participated in the study. Additionally, district data around SROs and discipline were analyzed for the five school districts in which the…

Over the past two decades, two-year colleges have seen a dramatic increase in enrollment rates of Black students. However, while two-year colleges have seen a rise in graduation rates of Hispanics, Asians, and White students, two-year colleges have not seen an increase in the graduation rates for Black students. The problem addressed in this study…

School systems have been faced with the attrition of male educational leaders in school districts. In particular, male educational leaders in the Maryland school district are pursuing non-educational leadership career paths instead of educational leadership career paths. Thus, the purpose of this qualitative, descriptive phenomenological study was…

Community colleges serve more than a significant proportion of Americans who could not otherwise attend colleges by providing access to fulfill their educational goals. Many of the students enrolled in the institutions look to the federal government to finance their educational expenses by obtaining federally guaranteed student loans. The…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to gain an understanding of how a principal's English Language Learner (ELL) educational experience and professional development impacts the collective efficacy of a school staff with a high ELL population. Research questions included the role of principals' ELL preparation, their history of professional…

Academic librarians are often expected to do research. But most librarians take at most one class in doing research. Therefore, academic librarians may not be prepared for researching and publishing. This dissertation asked the question: How do academic librarians develop competencies necessary for success in their initial efforts to do research?…

This study is a language policy ethnography of the families of four Latina fifth-grade students at a TWBE elementary school as they transition to middle school. Parents and their children jointly acted as policy agents as they navigated the school district's open enrollment system and, through their choices, co-created policy. Situated within…

Diversity and inclusivity are increasingly recognized as vital for academic excellence and workforce preparation in higher education. However, discrimination remains a significant challenge, particularly affecting underrepresented minority students, hindering their career aspirations and success, even after achieving higher education levels. This…

This study explored Black student representation in the undergraduate teacher education program at the University of Pittsburgh. Nationally, Black teachers are underrepresented in public schools (Cross, 2017; Hussar et al., 2020), which impacts Black student outcomes (Carver-Thomas, 2018; Haddix, 2017). Teacher Education programs provide a large…

Background: Student success is the foundation for maintaining programmatic accreditation in all healthcare education programs. There is limited research on admissions criteria and predictors of success in physical therapist assistant education. The goal of this study was to understand the relationship between admissions criteria and student…

The purpose of my study is to explore (1) whether disparities exist for consumers with Brain Injury (BI) receiving vocational rehabilitation (VR) services, and (2) the effects of demographic characteristics and VR service patterns on employment outcomes for people who have a BI using the RSA-911 2014. The major research question investigated is…

Interpersonal skills and perfectionistic tendencies of gifted adolescents may influence psychological health and future professional success. In order to better understand these variables, we must have accurate and valid measures first. This study attempted development and validation of measures of interpersonal skills and perfectionistic…

School officials have debated the pros and disadvantages of students using cell phones in school. To examine the influence of student cell phone use on academics and conduct, Ohio high school and middle school administrators (6-12) were surveyed on their policies and perceptions of cell phone use in their schools. The research also examined the…

This qualitative case study explored with a sample of first-generation students the factors that aided or impeded their pursuit of a degree before the pandemic, factors that impacted them during the crisis and any differences in their experiences at elite vs. non-elite schools. The rationale for the study was based on the researcher's objective to…