This quantitative study measured 188 college-aged students' perceptions of Culturally Relevant Teaching Practices (CRTPs) in six undergraduate business courses. In measuring the key themes of Diversity Teaching Practices, Cultural Engagement, and Relationship Building we discovered that among all students reported, regardless of their racial…

Undergraduate research is a high-impact learning experience, but undergraduate students interested in research often face high barriers to entry, such as limited guidance, confusing application processes, and feelings of not belonging. These barriers are especially prohibitive to first-year students, first-generation students, and members of…

Persistence across undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs is exceptionally low. Recent studies have shown that social support and sense of belonging are particularly important for students who are historically underrepresented in STEM, yet few interventions have directly targeted or investigated these…

Undergraduate students within science majors in the United States have more barriers than their peers, leading to lower rates of first-year retention and academic performance. To eradicate these barriers, research has sought to understand what factors influence retention and performance of science majors. Upon investigation, it was determined that…

More college students from diverse backgrounds and disciplines are enrolling in introductory statistics courses. In these courses, active learning, collaborative projects, and relatable content can help to support student learning, belonging, and engagement. In this study, we examined the effect of student-perceived peer, faculty, and classroom…

This study examines how relational aspects of the internship experience, namely students' perceptions of a supervisor's care and trust and students' sense of belonging, factor into students' satisfaction with their internship experience. We found that relational aspects impacted internship satisfaction. Although students' perceptions of a…

For traditionally underrepresented students, engaging in research experiences often means entering traditionally exclusive places with few role models that reflect their social identities. By looking at a small, public, minority-serving institution where students conduct summer research at other, less diverse institutions, this study explored the…

The retention disparities in undergraduate degree attainment are a persistent problem within the United States, especially for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), first-generation and low-income students, and women (referred to as marginalized groups in STEM [MGS] hereafter) pursuing STEM degrees. The following exploratory article…

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…

This study investigated the theoretical connection between student thriving and academic advising (Louis & Schreiner, 2020; Schreiner, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020) and sought to provide a better understanding of the relationships between satisfaction with academic advising and other college experiences that are associated with thriving. This study…

Retention rates of honors students in experiential learning programs have dropped in recent years as students left these programs at an unprecedented rate -- much to the dismay of administrators (Deka, 2020). Decreased year-to-year retention numbers affect the anticipated growth rates and sustainability of these programs. As current honors…

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 purpose of this study was to examine how membership in a historically Black Greek letter organization (BGLO) shapes the Black student experience at a predominantly White commuter institution. Students who identify as Black Americans with a membership in a BGLO for at least one year and were full-time undergraduate students at such institutions…

Sense of belonging as experienced by college students has contributed to high rates of co-curricular engagement and lifelong connections to an institution long beyond one's years as an undergraduate student. Undergraduate Students of Color and other historically minoritized student populations have reported barriers to their sense of belonging.…