Black male community college students have the lowest retention and completion rates among any racial group (National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, 2017). During this dissertation, I examined the root causes of Black male community college students' low graduation rates through a systematic literature review, and then identified mentoring…

HBCUs have failed to solicit consistent and substantial financial support from their alumni base. Robust alumni giving is foundational to an effective advancement program. Without substantial endowments and robust alumni giving, HBCUs will struggle with accreditation, student retention, faculty satisfaction, and leadership. Hence, the problem of…

This qualitative action research study aimed to examine and improve the experiences of social connectedness and sense of belonging among Black students at a predominantly white institution (PWI). Initial data collected from Cycle 1 showed that Black students faced multiple challenges on campus, primarily stemming from a perceived negative campus…

The purpose of this study was to explore constituent perspectives of the California Community Colleges Historically Black Colleges and Universities Transfer Guarantee Program. The researcher queried representatives from participating community colleges and Historically Black Colleges and Universities regarding their perspectives of the program.…

Retention and graduation rates are declining nationwide but are exceptionally low for Black men. Extant research substantiates that various influences contribute to a student's ability to persist to graduation. Apart from the positive impact of HBCUs on educational outcomes for Black students, empirical research highlights that enrollment, campus…

Online learning has become a popular alternative medium among adult learners. Nearly 7 million students in the United States reported taking a distance education course at a degree-granting post-secondary institution (National Center for Education Statistics, 2018). Despite the growing demand for and importance of online learning in higher…

The purpose of this study was to explore the professional and personal growth benefits for women faculty who engage in mentor and mentee relationships. The problem areas focus on the many obstacles to securing mentoring relationships for women faculty in higher education. There are many obstacles to securing mentoring relationships for junior…

This collective case study is intended to examine the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives of three historically white institutions (HWIs) in the southwest region of the U.S. through the lens of Critical Whiteness Studies (CWS). I employed the theoretical framework of Gusa (2010), White Institutional Presence, and Ray (2019), Theory…

Depression and anxiety disorders are common among college students. These disorders may impact a student from being successful in various aspects of their personal and professional life; the level of support one receives matters to success. Through this qualitative phenomenological study, I explored the level of mental health services marketed to…

With a decade-long stagnant 34% Black male college graduation rate, there was little understanding of how and why Black male initiatives, designed to improve Black male persistence and graduation in 4-year colleges, affected retention and graduation-related behaviors, as understood by the Black male participants in such initiatives. This…

This study employed a mixed-methods explanatory sequential design to provide a richer understanding of the relationship between peer mentoring and the academic success of students in STEM gatekeeper courses. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors contributing to the students' retention and persistence in a STEM program at an HBCU by…

Freshman orientation programs are essential in facilitating the successful transition of high school students to college. At Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), these programs have become essential for supporting and advising students as they begin their academic journey. However, the extent to which faculty members of freshman…

This research study was intended to understand the level of student effectiveness in academic support services. The study sought to discover the academic support services' strengths and weaknesses within the institution. The research took place on the campus of a private historically black college. The study formulation was a qualitative case…

The purpose of this phenomenological was to identify and understand how Black Male Initiative programs contributed to the completion of an undergraduate degree for Black males at HBCUs. The study's central research question was: What role does the Black Male Initiative (BMI) play in Black male undergraduate degree completion at HBCUs in the U.S.?…

Given the critical role of mentoring in the success of African American males in college, it is essential to gain a deeper understanding of how mentoring programs can best support African American male students and what elements contribute to their success (Henry, 2021). Recognizing that mentoring significantly influences the retention, academic…