Previous literature demonstrates the widespread impact of on-campus living for Black college students in terms of a sense of belonging, community building, and campus engagement. In contrast, this study specifically explored within-group differences (e.g., gender identity, sexual orientation, and ability status) in Black undergraduates' housing…

Racism is pervasive in our educational systems with direct ramifications on the mental wellness of preservice teachers who are historically marginalised. Using identity performances and racial battle fatigue to frame this work, we investigate ways in which preservice teachers from historically marginalised populations give voice to the impact of…

This study examined autistic undergraduate students' college experiences and their perceptions about their intentions to persist in college. Semi-structured online interviews were conducted with 27 autistic undergraduate students (mean age = 21.8 years; 40.7% men), and their responses were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Students…

Background: Traditionally, research examining Black student's mental health has occurred from a deficits-based perspective while failing to acknowledge their fortitude in persevering despite enduring adverse circumstances (i.e. racism and discrimination). However, a growing body of literature highlights the importance of focusing on positive…

This qualitative study draws from 60 interviews with LGBTQ+ college students to highlight how a positive psychology framework illuminates aspects of LGBTQ+ student success. Utilizing the broaden-and-build theory and the concept of thriving, we found LGBTQ+ students experienced thriving through managing and experiencing support for multiple…

This paper draws from Critical Race and Latina/o Critical Theories to examine the racialized experiences and academic successes of Latino male students in a doctoral program at a predominantly white institution in the Midwest. In doing so, the authors explore the friendship the participants developed with one another as they navigated unchartered…

This constructivist grounded theory study reveals nine interrelated components that describe white undergraduates' processes for making meaning of issues of race and racism in their environments. Findings also reveal how these processes perpetuate whiteness and anti-blackness. I present the theory as a composite counternarrative that draws upon…

This article explores how the escalating tensions in the nation are being mirrored on college campuses and how these tensions can profoundly affect the student experience. The current deep political and social divides require educators to respond in ways that are meaningful and necessitate enhanced skills and the ability to engage empathy and…

To effectively lead with our religiously diverse national and global communities, colleges and universities must engage practices and conditions that promote student interfaith learning and development. Recent research highlights seemingly divergent factors that both play significant roles to help prepare students for productive engagement across…

In partnership with the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB), the Office of Community College Research and Leadership (OCCRL) has had an ongoing commitment toward providing support for Illinois community colleges, with the goal of advancing equitable outcomes for students. In pursuit of this objective, OCCRL researchers have worked with…

Previous research exploring the lived experiences of marginalized groups of students in STEM at community college settings is limited, despite the fact that community colleges have the potential to create pathways to 4-year engineering degrees and diversify the STEM workforce. This study explored what underrepresented students in STEM valued most…

This study provides an empirical approach to utilizing an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based system for identifying students' university choice factors that impact their matriculation decision. We created an AI-based chatbot that gathered both qualitative and quantitative data from nearly 1200 participants worldwide. The entire human-AI…

The California Community Colleges (CCC) College Attendance Survey was designed to understand the factors influencing prospective and previously enrolled community college students' decisions to attend a California community college in fall of 2023. This report summarizes the second administration of this survey in late summer/early fall 2023 and…

Peru faces substantial social and economic inequality. Rural communities experience social exclusion through the undervaluation of their cultural heritage and native languages, creating significant barriers to their personal and professional growth. Higher education scholarships aim to address this issue, yet educational institutions--typically…

Using a psychosociocultural framework, we examined 122 Indian American undergraduates' well-being, with an emphasis on cultural processes. The student sample was primarily first-generation to college with differences emerging by student standing for coping approaches, perception of barriers that would prompt withdrawal, congruity, and well-being.…