Using structural equation modeling, this study identifies the direct and indirect relationships among campus diversity climate, faculty attitudes, student--faculty interaction, and cognitive skills development, examining how the relationships differ by students' race/ethnicity. With data from the University of California Undergraduate Experience…

Pre-service and beginning in-service science teachers enrolled in a university teacher education program participated in a project to support their teaching through a lens of sustainability. While they demonstrated active and positive engagement, I considered the possibility of any students reacting negatively to the course material and doing so…

College students are directly immersed in the Age of Distraction brought on by advances in technology and information overload. During the COVID-19 pandemic, students also reported unprecedented stress and anxiety. In this research, I studied the experiences of 61 undergraduate and graduate students at a private college by starting classes with a…

This qualitative, narrative study explores the experiences of college students with disabilities before and during the remote learning period. Three main themes emerged as critical influences on student perceptions of institutional access and inclusion: accommodations and accessibility; building relationships and community and course structure and…

Classroom incivility includes many student behaviors that detract from learning, such as texting, carrying on side conversations, leaving class early, etc. Uncivil behaviors distract faculty and students during class time and undermine the learning environment. This study examines classroom incivility from a social norms perspective. Social norms…

We present a reciprocal student-instructor interview activity as a means for establishing a positive classroom environment on the first day of class. This activity allows the instructor to clearly and concisely communicate the course practicalities to students while simultaneously providing students with the opportunity to share their…

Cell phones are nearly ubiquitous in the college classroom. This study asks two primary questions regarding the making and breaking of in-class cell phone policies. In what manner are students using their phones and how can faculty members minimize the potential for phone-related distractions? To answer these questions we analyze original survey…

Using a sample of 812 students who were enrolled exclusively in online courses, this study investigated the extent to which engagement in various elements of the college experience contributed to their learning. A supportive learning environment was the strongest predictor of learning in all three domains measured in the study. Faculty feedback…

This study explored the relationship between identity development, as gauged by Marcia's identity development construct, and student perception of instructor political bias. Regression analysis was employed to compare participant responses on the Ego Identity Process Questionnaire, a measure of Marcia's construct, with the Political Bias in the…

As the use of mobile devices, such as cell phones, has proliferated in academic settings in recent years, new challenges are faced by institutions of higher education and their faculties. The authors surveyed 269 college students from 21 academic majors at a small northeastern university to gain a better understanding of the frequency and manner…

Teachers have used many different techniques in efforts to augment engagement given the strong engagement-learning link. Teacher-student contact is one of the most effective tools for fostering engagement; however, some teachers find it hard to initiate contact in a way that seems natural. I present one method of initiating student-teacher…

Classroom incivility is a major concern in higher education today. Yet little study has been done of student perceptions of behavior in the classroom. Based on a survey of 3,616 students at a Midwestern public university, the present study provides useful information to faculty members and administrators about the behaviors students find most…

Subtle forms of prejudice called "microaggressions" occur in college classrooms, but the effective methods of managing such prejudice are not clear. This study explored teachers' (N = 222) and students' (N = 166) perceptions of vignettes describing classroom microaggressions and the effectiveness of various teacher responses to the…

While not representative of all students, those who demonstrate a sense of entitlement demand a great deal of instructors' time and energy. Our article places student entitlement in its social context, with specific attention to the prevalence of the consumer mentality, grade inflation, and the self-esteem of the student generation. We then…

Tablet PCs have the potential to change the dynamics of classroom interaction through wireless communication coupled with pen-based computing technology that is suited for analyzing and solving engineering problems. This study focuses on how tablet PCs and wireless technology can be used during classroom instruction to create an Interactive…