Based on the shift in higher education from providing access to improving student outcomes, the purpose of this study was to examine institutional conditions community college students perceived as contributing to success in terms of identifying and making progress toward or achieving their educational goals. Institutional conditions were…

This dissertation investigates the influence of racialization on the attrition rates of African American male students in predominantly white institutions (PWIs). The study examines whether these students experience cultural shock or face more profound systemic challenges. The research explores how African American men navigate and perceive their…

Despite increased college enrollment rates among FGAMFCS, these students face substantial challenges that contribute to lower rates of graduation compared to their peers from other ethnic backgrounds. Based on Tinto's Student Integration Model, this study examines the persistence of FGAMFCS at Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs) in the United…

This study explores the academic and social experience of international students in colleges in the United States of America. Specifically, the study focuses on colleges with a high percentage of international students as they represent diverse cultural backgrounds and contribute significantly to the campus environment. Data were collected from 30…

Mainstream America needs a reorientation. Despite the focus portraying all Black Americans as living in inner-city poverty by mass media or social scientist, the African American middle-class is growing. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to understand African American middle-class graduating students on Historically White College…

This article presents a retrospective autoethnopoetic study exploring a queer student's journey in Australian tertiary STEM education, employing queer research methodologies to illuminate the challenges encountered. Through personal narrative and poetic expression, we identify critical themes: microaggressions, discrimination, identity formation,…

Racism pervasively impacts the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and is a substantial barrier to accessing, engaging and succeeding within secondary education. Cultural resilience and support have been identified as critical to Aboriginal success within racist institutions. However, research examining experiences of racism and…

The transition from secondary education to the first year of higher education is a phase in which students are faced with many challenges. First-year students may lack the academic capital that is needed to understand explicit and implicit rules of higher education. We investigated students' participation in a preacademic program and the…

Colleges and universities are under increasing pressure to retain students and increase degree completion amid multiple social and economic threats to undergraduate student enrollment. A sense of belonging, motivation, and confidence are foundational to student success and essential components of strategic approaches to enrollment challenges.…

This dissertation explores academic persistence among Latinx students at City College of San Francisco (CCSF), using cultural-historical activity theory (CHAT) to emphasize the culturally-mediated nature of goal directed human activity. The study investigates factors related to persistence within the context of CCSF's Metro Transfer Program…

Campus climate, student engagement, and academic achievement are three critical issues in higher education institutions. In this study, perceived campus climate measured the experience of students on a campus; engagement measured the degree of students' academic and extra-curricular involvement, while academic achievement was usually measured by…

Much research has been done on LGBT students in relation to campus climate and academic achievement, which suggested that a positive campus climate may positively influence students' academic success. However, no research has yet been done to understand the value of campus climate, student levels of depression anxiety and stress, and student level…

This quantitative study aimed to understand processes germane to Indigenous graduate students' transcultural socialization in Science, Engineering, Technology, and Math fields (STEM). We theorized that transculturation and "wayfinding" are complementary socialization processes to promote healthy socialization of Indigenous graduate…

First-generation (FG) college students (students for whom neither parent earned a bachelor's degree) are typically less likely to interact with their instructors and communicate with them by email or in person, compared to continuing-generation (CG) students. Qualitative research suggests FG students are less likely to seek help when they need it,…

Mental health and well-being are vital for the success of students, especially in higher education contexts. The last decade has witnessed a growing concern related to the mental health and well-being of higher education institutions (HEIs) students worldwide. However, the literature related to this research domain remains fragmented and diverse…