The demographics of people attending higher education institutions are changing as more women enroll and complete their studies. Initially not designed to educate women, and certainly not Black women, institutions of higher education do not show interest in exploring ways in which they could make their campuses more inclusive to Black women.…

Building and testing a framework of interactive and indirect predictors of student satisfaction would help us understand how to improve student online learning experience. The current study proposed that external predictors such as poor technological, environmental, and pedagogical factors would be internalized as negative psychological traits and…

At a time when all course instruction had been moved online, it seemed wishful thinking for a group of undergraduate students to begin authentic, independent research. With curious, creative, and motivated mindsets; however, we learned not only that such research was possible during a global pandemic, but that it could provide vital learning…

In March 2020, higher education institutions experienced a lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Numerous studies have shown the negative impact of the lockdown on students' mental health. The lockdown situation was unprecedented and describing the variety of experiences is therefore important. This study aims to describe students' lived…

This qualitative descriptive research aimed to examine and determine the effectiveness of online education by addressing the challenges of the nontraditional student experience while taking fully online asynchronous courses versus synchronous ones. The study strived to determine new approaches to enhance online education and increase teaching…

This dissertation examines the post-college career choices of no-loan program alumni at Harvard College. Using a conceptual framework informed by elements of social cognitive career theory (Lent et al., 1994) and Perna's (2006) model of college choice, it identifies "what" careers alumni chose after college and "how" and…

Increasing numbers of international students bring their different cultures, languages, and educational backgrounds to higher education, and they expect their experiences and interactions with higher education institutions to be rewarding journeys. A key issue - the dynamic and multifaceted concept of student engagement as an important indicator…

Enrolling in an online program has become an increasingly popular choice for graduate students, as this format allows the flexibility to balance personal, academic, and professional commitments. However, this flexibility alone does not guarantee that an online program will contribute positively to students' lives. In this qualitative action…

This grounded theory study uses a semi-structured interview process, as well as a differentiated information acquisition approach to explore the perceptions and experiences of individuals who identify as neurodivergent in the postsecondary setting. The aim of this study is to gain firsthand knowledge about the lived experiences of former and…

This dissertation presents a critical literature review exploring the influences of repatriation and adjusting to the university experience in the United States of America on the identity development of third culture kids. A third culture kid is someone who spent a significant part of their developmental years living outside their passport country…

This dissertation explored the experiences of 14 first-generation graduates who had recently completed a master's degree, analyzing the saliency of their first-generation identity with a strengths-based focus. Much literature exists regarding the experiences of first-generation undergraduate students and doctoral students, yet few studies center…

Bullying was a pervasive issue affecting high schools in the United States despite anti-bullying programs. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of former high school bullying victims about why anti-bullying programs have not reduced incidents of bullying. The conceptual framework that supported this study was…

The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to investigate how first-year college students describe their experiences with stress and coping. This study sought to understand what coping mechanisms first-year college students use when they experience stress. Prior to this dissertation, it was not known how first-year college students describe…

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 caused unexpected and unprecedented disruptions worldwide, inflicting inconvenience in daily life, heightened health risk, and psychological distress. University students, especially international students, faced unique challenges and stressors related to education, financial situation, safety, mental…

High-impact practices (HIPs) are well-documented experiences that deepen engagement and go beyond traditional markers of success for college students. First-generation college students (FGCS) may even see greater gains in participation than their continuing-generation counterparts. Since universities historically retain FGCS at lower rates, this…