A significant teacher shortage exists across the United States due to factors ranging from accountability policies for the performance growth of students, the overwhelming workload due to teacher shortages, and the lack of competitive salaries that other professions offer. Consequently, state officials have introduced and implemented changes to…

This study examined the significance of induction and mentorship programs in retaining early-career teachers in South Carolina. Induction and mentorship programs have been recognized as a viable solution since high turnover rates among new teachers may harm student learning and school culture. The study examined the variables of clear program…

Teacher turnover can have a negative impact on school districts. This study sought to examine the causes for teacher turnover and to find solutions to increase teacher retention. Data collected in Cycle 1 originated from interviews with 10 continuing contract teachers focusing on their experiences in the classroom. From cycle 1 data, action steps…

This dissertation was a multiple case study research project designed to identify whether the "Men of Merit Program" (MOMP) met its goal of increasing persistence, retention, and graduation rates of African American male students at a Western New York Community College. Earlier statistics reported that other American colleges had shown a…

The pipeline of college students seeking teaching positions is shrinking. The teacher shortage makes finding and retaining new teachers even more challenging. The cost of replacing existing teachers who leave is tremendous, and new teachers leave the profession at an alarming rate. This dissertation explored the lived experiences of new teachers…

While scholars recognize that engagement in Black and other affirming campus places strengthen Black college student retention efforts (Miller, 2017; Patton, 2006b; Solorzano et al., 2000; Volpe & Jones, 2021), less is known about how these areas become important to Black students. In this instrumental case study, I use the case of recent…

Many interventions are being studied to help combat barriers into STEM fields that contribute to high attrition and low persistence rates (Chen, 2013; Ejiwale, 2013; Ellis et al., 2016). One such intervention is near-peer mentor (NPM) programs, which utilize undergraduate students as academic supports to fellow undergraduate students. Studies have…

Much research has been conducted to indicate that the freshman year of high school has an impact on a student's potential graduation from high school. Existing literature reveals that through the evolution of education in the United States, schools have been forced to place a strong emphasis on graduation. Many factors, including academic success,…

Communications Officers, the core of law enforcement emergency centers, are the first point of contact in an emergency. It is imperative to provide effective training and support geared towards retention and success in a comfortable environment. The purpose of this study was to create a training program evaluation supportive of persistence,…

This transcendental phenomenological study examined the factors that led to the successes of Latino males' persistence in obtaining their bachelor's degree. Through the lens of participants' lived experiences, first-generation Latino males unpack their experiences and describe how those experiences impacted their academic achievement to graduate…

The retention of high-achieving students in a university honors program is a significant challenge for academic institutions. This dissertation evaluates how well an honors college at a large, urban, public university retains students in the Honors College. The evaluation is a mixed-methods utilization-focused evaluation conducted by an internal…

The purpose of this qualitative evaluation was to understand how the Ascent program, a bridge initiative at Plymouth State University, programmatically addressed institutional concerns regarding student retention and persistence during its three-year pilot phase, according to the perceptions of past participants, faculty, and administrators. The…

Teacher attrition is a main contributor to teacher shortages; providing effective professional development leading to increases in self-efficacy, reflective capacity, and job satisfaction may support teacher retention. Effective professional development, self-efficacy, reflective practice, and job satisfaction are all directly related to teacher…

Technology-rich instruction is described an important instructional component for fostering the development of 21st century skills (U.S. Department of Education, 2017) and an effective pedagogy for teaching at-risk students (Darling-Hammond et al., 2014). The purpose of this qualitative case study program evaluation was to explore technology-rich…

Many universities have implemented initiatives designed to address first year retention and persistence. Various prevention and support programs, including summer bridge programs, TRIO and Student Support Services, have been funded for the primary purpose of improving the outcomes of underserved populations. Although these initiatives and programs…