This research study explored the level of student engagement that transfer students experience and how these levels can predict their persistence. This quantitative study utilized secondary data from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). George Kuh's Theory of Student Engagement guided this study and influenced the development of the…

The gap in supply (i.e., shortage) and demand of the STEM workforce have prompted extensive research on identifying factors that predict STEM outcomes and retention of students. Few studies, however, have examined the relationships between STEM outcomes and predictors in an integrated model, taking into account measurement errors in the…

The purpose of this quantitative study is to assess if perceptions of academic and institutional support as well as demographic factors, predict intention to return to school amongst online first-generation college students enrolled at traditional higher educational institutions. To complete the causal-comparative study, the researcher analyzes…

This study examined the factors that predict the likelihood of a first-time freshman (FTF) student retaining and graduating in a timely manner at the University of Kansas (KU) based on their perceptions of the frequency and quality of student-faculty engagement, with an emphasis on exploring differences between underrepresented minority students…

The United States must tap into its growing minority population in STEM fields to maintain global competitiveness. Despite increased diversity in STEM work-related fields within the United States, African American (AA) students are still underrepresented in STEM majors, resulting in low community participation in STEM careers compared to their…

The purpose of this study was to use existing data from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) to examine the relationship between student engagement indicators and NCAA Division I student-athletes' participation in high-impact practices, specifically internships and study abroad. Student engagement indicators were the independent…

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between student aspirations and other background characteristics with student engagement level in their first year. Despite the knowledge that engagement is influential in student success outcomes, completion rates have not changed in more than thirty years (Gonyea, 2006). Hsieh (2014)…

This dissertation's two primary purposes were to construct an alternative socioeconomic status model and estimate how it predicts student success in higher education. This research filled a gap in knowledge about the widely acknowledged disparities in higher education based on socioeconomic status. Prior research has often relied on parental…

Disturbing and persistent trends in bachelor's degree attainment among Latinos in the United States have inspired much interest in the educational trajectories of Latinos and their college-going experiences. Of particular interest is the evidence that Latino college students are more likely to realize positive student outcomes at more selective…

In the United States, colleges and universities have not promoted the academic success of their students of color as effectively as their White students (National Center for Education Statistics [NCES], 2016). While much research has been conducted to explore how racism impacts higher education attainment of Black/African American and…

A student's college experience includes relationships that they establish at the two-year or four-year university that they attend (Strayhorn, 2012). The purpose of this study is to identify personal and institutional characteristics of transfer student-athletes that have significant associations with sense of belonging. In addition, the study…

Student engagement is a recognized factor within higher education when understanding student satisfaction, retention, and persistence. The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) has been used across the nation since 2000 to measure the engagement behaviors of first year and fourth-year students at four-year institutions. The results of the…

The number of students with disabilities accessing higher education continues to increase, yet persistence and graduation rates for this population of students are considerably lower than those of students without disabilities. Previous research suggests that a key factor in improving post-secondary outcomes is increasing the level with which…

In recent years, access to higher education was greatly improved through public funding. This improvement is not matched by a similar increase in graduation rate. The purpose of this study is to examine what postsecondary institutions can do to improve college freshman retention. The conceptual framework was based on research on college student…

The student populations in colleges and universities in the United States have become more diverse in the students that they serve. It has been argued that disaggregation of student data would allow researchers to test the saliency of student development models. However, there is only a small body of research available on first-year Black male…