The purpose of my study was to understand the perceptions of first-generation female doctoral students (FGFDS) and what factors may impact first-generation female doctoral students' completion of their doctoral program. As the researcher, I collected data through: (a) interviews; (b) participant generated photographs; (c) the group meeting; and…

This paper is an evaluation of undergraduate college students' participation in the Student Alumni Association (SAA) at the University of South Florida. I evaluated benefits of participating in the program, why students do not participate in the program, and if participation affected students' persistence through college. Undergraduate students…

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study is to highlight the characteristics that first-time, first-year students at a small, private, faith-based university in South Florida perceive as part of quality advising, what qualities of advising this group of students perceive as most important for their retention, and whether the advisors…

The problem that is facing one community college in Central Florida is the decrease in enrollment of teacher education majors and the low persistence of students who choose to pursue education as a major. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore why education majors at this community college chose to enroll and their reasons for…

Osteopathic medical students experience academic challenges during their preclinical years of medical school due to the rigorous medical school curriculum. Prior research identified several challenges experienced by these students and the need to explore resilience strategies which can be employed to address those challenges. The purpose of this…

Concern about graduation rates in higher education has led universities to offer courses that help students develop success skills. Scientist Life Skills, a new course for freshman at Florida A&M University, focuses on helping students matriculate into majors via development of growth mindset, grit, and critical thinking. Here, we assessed the…

This qualitative study provided a compilation of Latinx student stories and experiences at a medium-sized community college located on the west coast of Central Florida to further understand student challenges with persisting to degree or certificate of completion and motivational factors contributing to re-enrollment after a stop out period.…

First-generation, low-income students currently complete higher education degrees at lower rates than their peers. It is well established that focusing on a students' academic and social integration during their first four semesters can aide in their degree persistence. This study aims to provide ways in which higher education professionals can…

This quantitative comparative study aimed to evaluate how undergraduate students at four-year institutions assess diversity and inclusion on their campuses and how their thoughts affect retention. Differences were assessed between White and BIPOC (Black, Hispanic and Latin, Asian and Pacific Islander, and Native American and Alaskan Native)…

Textbook costs can have a significant impact on the purchasing behaviors and academic success of higher education students. Open textbooks promise significant cost savings, yet perceptions about quality and efficacy still linger. This study explored the impact of an open textbook adoption in an American history course on student academic outcomes…

This study was designed to assess continuing and potential students' perceptions regarding factors affecting the overall quality of one Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) program in the southeastern United States. The study also sought to assess program participants' perceptions of the impact of hypothesized situational, institutional, and…

Higher education continues to grapple with addressing the successful retention and degree attainment of first-generation students. Further, there is limited research that explores implications of first-generation status by racial or ethnic group. Black women who are first-generation are members of at least two groups that have been historically…

This study provides one of the first causal estimates of the impact of housing on academic outcomes. While college students are too often dismissed as a privileged and healthy part of the population, researchers increasingly observe housing insecurity among college students. This problem worsened during the pandemic, underscoring the link between…

In January 2017, Trellis launched a nine-month study aimed at better understanding the non-academic challenges that postsecondary students face and the ways they try to meet their basic needs while pursuing academic goals. Working with 11 institutions in Texas and Florida, researchers recruited a cohort of 72 current undergraduate students. Though…

At a community college in Florida, the associate of science in nursing (ASN) program has experienced low persistence rates especially after the first semester of study. Framed by Jeffreys's nursing undergraduate retention and success model, a mixed-method approach was used to investigate first-semester and final-year ASN students' perceptions of…