The problem addressed in this study was that teachers are struggling to support the instructional needs of at-risk students Grades 3-5 in mathematics in a Southern state. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of Grades 3-5 teachers of the instructional supports, approaches, and recommendations to support the…

The number of students with mental health challenges has increased significantly in public schools during the past 10 years. Despite school and community efforts many students remain underserved, specifically at-risk populations. At-risk youth are more likely to experience adverse life outcomes such as performing poorly in school, dropping out of…

Disparities in academic performance and degree attainment continue to affect systemically marginalized (SM) college students. Amidst these persistent inequities, this qualitative study aimed to better understand how SM students at a competitive university navigated their choice to engage with support and how they conceptualized success. The study…

While the number of individuals in the United States between the ages of 25-44 with a bachelor's degree has been increasing, so too has the number of individuals who have started college and dropped out. Higher education has numerous societal and individual benefits that are not being actualized because there are simply not enough individuals with…

The purpose of this quantitative correlational predictive study aimed to assess to what extent the number of actual study table hours predicted change of Grade Point Average (GPA) for at-risk student-athletes participating in revenue and non-revenue sports. Data was collected from 108 participants total, fifty-three participants in…

This phenomenological qualitative study examined the intersection between TRIO Upward Bound participation and resilience theory to determine how participation in TRIO Upward Bound impacted the resiliency of its at-risk youth participants. Accordingly, the participants of this study are alumni of the federally funded TRIO Upward Bound program, a…

With the continual decline of high school graduation rates in South Carolina, there is a need for high schools to look at alternative pathways to graduation. Many of the current alternatives offered to students remove them from the high school setting or interactions with the student body. This study focused on an alternative pathway to…

Going to college creates a financial challenge for an increasing number of American students. The inadequacy of available financial aid and lack of wrap-around services make the possibility of college graduation increasingly challenging for former McKinney-Vento students. The purpose of this study was to explore the financial, socioemotional, and…

Nationally, men of color are graduating college at the lowest rates of all race-gender subgroups. Prior research suggests this population faces unique obstacles as it relates to race and gender and these challenges are often invisible and difficult to resolve. Academic supports can help students overcome these obstacles; however, it is not clear…

Colleges and universities recruit student veterans and spend $10.2 billion a year on GI Bill benefits; however, student veterans rarely receive degrees. This descriptive research study explored the experiences of student veterans during their transition from the military to higher education institutions. A qualitative descriptive approach was…

Since the early 2000s, federal, state, and local lawmakers and educators have worked to combat the "wait to fail" mentality and support higher student grade level academic achievements. Educators were tasked with finding teaching methods that better served academically struggling students, some of whom had specified learning…

This dissertation examined the relationship between participation in an academic coaching program and retention for community college students enrolled in developmental education courses. With low retention and completion rates for students beginning in developmental courses, support programs to improve student success are needed. This…

Online credit recovery (OCR) allows US students at risk of dropping out of school to retake courses to meet graduation requirements and eventually graduate from high school. The problem addressed in this study is that despite participating in online English II credit recovery (ELA II OCR), students in a rural school district in North Florida still…

Student athletes often enter college unprepared for academic rigor, making them particularly vulnerable in terms of academic success. At a faith-based university in the southeast United States, low retention of student athletes results from poor class attendance, course failures, and low grade point averages. The purpose of this basic qualitative…

This quantitative study investigated the perceptions of institutional academic support by Division III student athletes. Student athletes can be at a high risk for lower grade point averages (GPAs) during their college career due to conflicting time demands of athletics and academics. The NCAA regulates the access to academic support based on…