This doctoral action research dissertation is coauthored as a qualitative three-article dissertation; each article leverages a different qualitative approach to the research. Article 1 focuses on the existing depth of literature regarding higher education faculty and their practice of social justice within their roles. Article 2 is a critical…

Starting a new job can be likened to be thrown into the deep end of a pool and being expected to swim with no prior lessons. Not only is this practice dangerous at actual swimming pools it is also detrimental in the workforce. Student Affairs is a high turnover field with over 50% of new employees leaving the field completely within the first 5…

This study examined the lower enrollment of Black students in graduate programs compared to their enrollment in undergraduate programs. In today's climate with the recent Supreme Court case rulings and the enrollment cliff, recruiting Black students is both challenging and incredibly important. To address this problem, the study explored how a…

This study introduces a novel approach for conducting Systematic Literature Reviews(SLRs) by incorporating a unique mixed-methods design into the well-established SLR process. The proposed approach, identified as Mixed-Methods Based Systematic Literature Review (MMB-SLR), not only provides researchers with a broader perspective on their research…

This action research study implemented an intervention, the Learn at Work program, for operational employees in facilities management at William & Mary earning less than $19 an hour. One of eight dimensions in the Workplace Inclusion Scale, developed by Lennox et al. (2022), is "access to opportunity" (p. 27). This study's…

College students are experiencing high rates of mental health issues since the pandemic impacting their success inside and outside the classroom. This is a cause of great concern for institutions of higher education leaders urgently seeking solutions to support them. In the U.S. (United States), it is estimated that 30% of college students seek…

This action research study focused on the creation of an onboarding program to empower employees in higher education institutions. The topics of onboarding, professional development, and team building specifically for admissions professionals working in Christian higher education institutions were discussed. Three workshop sessions were created…

Black individuals have been disproportionately involved in the criminal justice system in the United States ("Federal Bureau of Prisons," 2022). Because of their criminal justice involvement, Black individuals are perceived as "second-class citizens" making their quest for "freedom" an endless journey impacted by…

This study examined and addressed the role of the broader rural community as supportive in shaping access to higher education among Black students as knowledge holders of their own lived experiences. Using a youth participatory action research (YPAR) approach, the theoretical underpinnings for the study included Yosso's (2005) community cultural…

St. Thomas University (STU) is a Catholic university with rich cultural and international diversity committed to the academic and professional success of its students who become ethical leaders in our global community. Its Law School trains and graduates lawyers skilled in applying legal values and philosophies to address and solve the problems of…

Despite more than four decades of extensive research on student engagement and campus climate, researchers still do not know how to create undergraduate learning environments that promote student persistence. Undergraduate student graduation rate in the US has consistently hovered at around the 50 percent mark. In fact, the field of student…

As more countries import western curriculums, there is a concern that western curriculum offers an individual cultural approach that fails to reach Saudi Arabian students from collective cultures. With expectations for performing academic work unfamiliar to Saudi Arabian students, many students may resort to academic dishonesty to avoid failure.…

Institutional Title IX processes fail to adequately address harms and needs which result from campus sexual misconduct, leaving many students dissatisfied. The purpose of this action research study was to investigate this problem within a specific university community and consider how to aim for improvement. Through surveys, interviews, and a…

The Academic Operations team within the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University, like many teams, is in the process of navigating great change. This change comes not only from within the organization but also as a result of external factors, such as the adoption of a hybrid work schedule. The purpose of this action research…

Literature asserts mentorship as a key component to career and personal development. In Higher Education, which is male dominated, African American/Black Women subordinates are challenged with limited access to same-race/same-gender leaders to serve as supervisor-mentors. This Cooperative-Inquiry Action Research study was conducted to provide…