Student persistence and retention in community colleges concern scholars, policymakers, and academics in higher education at large. Previous literature suggests that a strong sense of belonging in higher education and at the institution the student is attending may be one significant factor that impacts persistence and retention. However,…

One of the responsibilities of high school counselors is to assist students in achieving grade-level promotion leading to graduation. Through building relationships with students experiencing barriers to remaining academically on-track and strengthening communication with these students, their families, and their teachers, school counselors can…

Available research discusses the first-generation undergraduate experience, graduate students' sense of belonging, and first-generation graduate students, but little research shows the themes that impact a first-generation graduate student's sense of belonging. Understanding the first-generation graduate students' experience as a marginalized…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive research was to explore how students described their experiences within a semester-long, new-student orientation program as contributing to their year-to-year re-enrollment at a community college in Arizona. Two research questions guided the stud. Exhaustive review of prior research indicated the…

The broad goal of this study was to explore the experiences of Black fashion alumni while they were undergraduate students at a large, public university in the Midwestern United States. Participant demographics, their social capital, and their attitudes towards technology were examined to understand the impact of these variables on their…

The current study assesses the utility of the University Belongingness Questionnaire (UBQ) in community college settings. Utilizing item response theory (IRT), the UBQ was evaluated with a sample of 1155 community college students at one large community college on the west coast. In addition, other constructs were measured to ascertain the…

This dissertation investigated predictors of scientific civic engagement among undergraduate students through a multimethod approach, focusing on how educational experiences shaped students' engagement with their communities using scientific skills. This multipart study addressed gaps in understanding how educational practices, identity, and sense…

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted students' educational experiences, raising concerns about their social and emotional development. This longitudinal quantitative study analyzed changes in student perceptions of social and emotional well-being using Panorama Education SEL survey data from Cohort 2023 12th graders at an urban intensive high school…

Purpose: Although prior studies showed a positive association between rural youths' school experiences and educational outcomes, our knowledge is limited about how components of self-determination theory relate to rural youths' academic expectations and rural residential aspirations. Therefore, the current study aims to examine the relationship…

This qualitative descriptive study aimed to explore how Black male teachers perceive their tokenization experiences in urban school environments in the Southwest United States. The theoretical foundation of the study is Kanter's Theory of Tokenism. A sample of 31 Black male teachers working in urban school environments were recruited to answer two…

The 2020 U.S. census revealed that Asian American and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) populations are among the fastest growing in the nation, with 24 million Asian American and 1.6 million NHPI residents. Despite a long history of anti-Asian sentiment and racism in the U.S., Asian American and NHPI students have been harmfully…