Millions of high school students take Advanced Placement (AP) courses, which can provide college credit. Using nationally representative data, I identify a diverse set of higher education outcomes that are related to receipt of AP college credit. Institution fixed effects regression reduces bias associated with varying AP credit policies and…

This study investigated patterns of college attendance using data from a nationwide and contemporary sample of 2112 rural youth. We found that more than half of rural youth attended two-year institutions at some point during their college career and about a fourth initially enrolled in a two-year college before enrolling in a four-year college.…

Using a funds of knowledge framework, this qualitative case study focuses on Latina/o staff in a college outreach program. Findings suggest the success of the outreach program is influenced by staff who have incorporated funds of knowledge into their professional practice. This study reveals that funds of knowledge are not only accumulated or…

Research has shown that the standardized placement exams traditionally used to assess students' readiness for entry-level, or gateway, math and English courses are poor predictors of college performance and are associated with decreased student persistence and low rates of degree attainment. Informed self-placement (ISP) is an increasingly popular…

The State of Student Aid and Higher Education in Texas (SOSA) annual report from Trellis Research provides information helpful in informing policy and programs for higher education student financial aid. The report serves as a reference for colleges, universities, and policymakers, and provides a comparison of Texas state and federal student aid…

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a rapid and unprecedented shift of widening participation and outreach activities to online and remote delivery. The impact of this went beyond practitioners and the university sector; positive and negative implications are felt by stakeholders and the broader community. This shift online is discussed through the lens…

In 2005, the percentage of Canton City's young adults with some college or an associate degree was 33%. In addition, only 12.5% of its adults had earned a bachelor's degree or higher, and 81% of its students were in poverty. Canton's poorest neighborhoods needed a compelling example that college was possible. In response, the Canton City School…

This small-scale design study describes disciplinary learning in mathematical modeling and science from an authentic engineeringthemed module. Current research in tissue engineering served as source material for the module, including science content for readings and a mathematical modeling activity in which students work in small teams to design a…

Student attrition remains a persistent problem within the Australian higher education sector. Contributing factors include financial, reputational and quality issues, which can pose significant risks for a university's sustainability. Institutional culture is fundamental to decisions student make about withdrawing or remaining in higher education.…

Knowledge obtained in higher education through de-contextualised tasks and activities often remains "inert" and learners cannot readily transfer understanding to novel contexts. Nowhere is this more evident than in learning a foreign language. Typical language interaction exercises in class do not mirror real-life language use and such…

Educational systems differ from country to country. Variables including society's requirements and state policies may underlie these different systems. No matter what rationale those system differences have, the main purpose of the system is to raise "qualified individuals." Institutions of higher educations are structures in which the…

The Early College High School Initiative has been in place for decades. The initiative's primary focus is on students for whom the transition into postsecondary education is problematic (Jobs for the Future, 2014). The main priority for these Early College High Schools was to serve low-income, first-generation college goers, English language…

Historically, academic support departments have played a relatively passive role in our colleges and universities. Providing traditional, out-of-class support services such as tutoring, supplemental instruction, and skills workshops, these functions have commonly operated in detachment from the course environment. Faculty, particularly at two-year…

Nonprofit community-based organizations (CBOs) increasingly provide services that are traditionally thought to be a governmental responsibility. Through a qualitative case study, we examine the role, politics, and sustainability of a nonprofit CBO aimed at expanding opportunities for underserved youth. Our findings explain how this CBO worked to…

Rural youth are now graduating from high school at rates comparable to their peers in urban and suburban schools, however far fewer rural youth pursue postsecondary education. Using a comparative case study method, we explore postsecondary preparation efforts at three rural school districts. Each case represents a different classification of…