The Colorado Re-Engaged (CORE) initiative, created under House Bill 21-1330, allows a four-year institution of higher education (IHE) to award an associate degree to former students who meet eligibility requirements -- including having already earned at least 70 credit hours before stopping-out of a bachelor's program. Under HB21-1330, each…

Underserved populations' access to college continues to increase across the United States; however, the number of students from underserved populations attaining college degrees is not growing at the same rate. The purpose of this single case study was to describe how the Collaborative Partners in Success (CPiS) Program supports its participants…

This qualitative study examines the lived experiences of both first-generation (FG) students and employees of an Upward Bound (UB) program. The purpose of this study is to explore how an UB program at a private university in the Midwest can aid in bridging the educational gap for FG students while faced with obstacles such as reaching, engaging,…

Assessment underpins students' learning in higher education and provides evidence of knowledge and skills. Program-level planning refocuses the assessment from being content and siloed at the course level to being program oriented with alignment to program learning outcomes and graduate attributes. Program-level assessment has been gaining…

The statewide program review process for Illinois community colleges required by the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) is scheduled on a five-year cycle, however, the value of program review is lost without regular opportunities for engagement and reflection on what has been learned through the process (Eggleston, 2020). Furthermore, one of…

As academic librarians become aware of the challenges textbook expenses pose to student success, they have increased efforts to provide free access to required course materials. Librarians at Illinois State University initiated a program to license course-assigned e-books, surveying participating students and faculty regarding their perspectives…

Policy implementation is crucial because if the policy is not implemented as planned, the policy objectives will not be achieved, and the whole policymaking process can be considered a total waste of time, energy, and resources. Regarding the essential nature of policy implementation, this study was focused on exploring factors hindering the…

Purpose: Program evaluation stands as an evidence-based process that would allow institutions to document and improve the quality of graduate programs and determine how to respond to growing calls for aligning training models to economic realities. This paper aims to present the current state of evaluation in research-based doctoral programs in…

The present study contributes to the body of work addressing the need for diversity in the educator workforce. The study examines six grant-funded projects designed to increase the diversity of teacher candidates, support these candidates through licensure, and ultimately increase the diversity of the teacher workforce in Ohio. Data was gathered…

This dissertation explores the evolving landscape of graduate business education, highlighting the growing significance of specialized master's programs alongside traditional MBAs at the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business. It recognizes the changing demographics and needs of students, emphasizing the critical importance of fostering a…

Chemistry outreach, a type of informal science education commonly practiced by college students, has primarily been studied by looking at individuals' approaches and perspectives. However, it is much more common for college students to plan and conduct chemistry outreach events as part of a group/club/chapter, not independently. In this case…

This study addresses the accessibility challenges faced by underrepresented students in international education, primarily focused on study abroad programs at the higher education level. Systemic barriers in place often hinder these students from participation in study abroad programming due to costs, academic, familial, or other reasons. The aim…

Meaningfully engaging faculty in assessment presents a continual challenge for general education administrators. Faculty perceptions of assessment--including that assessment serves no purpose other than "checking a box" for accreditation and that it conveys little benefit to the instructor--often hinder instructor engagement. A low-cost…

Academic leaders in higher education come by and large from majority white faculty. This article describes the development of a consortium-based faculty leadership program intentionally designed for Black and Latino faculty, the specific ways the program components addressed issues of race in the context of leadership, and the recruitment…

Embedding mental wellbeing in learning is a priority for the UK Higher Education sector, as increasing numbers of students disclose mental health difficulties, challenges and conditions. Technology-enhanced, distance and blended learning is uniquely positioned to make a change for good in the sector; it can provide alternatives to traditional…