Retention concerns remain high for postsecondary institutions and even more so when focusing on populations such as those who are the first in the family to attend college, first-generation college students. First-generation students account for 34% of the collegiate population, yet 40% of first-generation students do not return for their…

Much attention has been given to the changing landscape in higher education regarding declining student-enrollment rates and changing demographics. University leaders are giving higher priority to student-success outcomes, specifically retention, persistence, and graduation rates, resulting in a need to examine the emerging role of the student…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the involvement and integration factors that contribute to the persistence of international students. Persistence and retention are central to improving higher education, and individual student persistence as well as the rates at which students persist have direct ramifications on the university…

African American males have some of the lowest retention rates of all races and genders in higher education. First-generation African American male undergraduate students (FGAAMUS) attending a public 4-year institution located in the southeastern portion of the United States are experiencing lower retention rates than other students in the same…

Higher education institutions' success relies on student retention and graduation rates, especially among underrepresented minority (URM) groups, where persistent disparities exist. This dissertation focuses on URM Division I student-athletes, often overlooked despite their significant influence within universities. Notably, academic success gaps…

Research shows that the at-risk population entering college dropout or land on probation within their first year in college. Through a longitudinal comparative research design, this study examines at-risk students' academic standing, retention, graduation, and tutoring usage within a cohort program compared to a non-cohort initiative at a…

This dissertation investigated the persistence of African American college students with disabilities in higher education, focusing on academic, social, and institutional factors influencing their success. Using a qualitative approach and insights from interviews; findings revealed that comprehensive academic support services, social integration,…

The existing retention literature focuses on White students and non-White students in predominantly White institutional (PWI) environments. Furthermore, prevailing literature tends to concentrate on varying factors that influence these students to be retained at their respective institutions. Retention factors in differing contexts, such as…

Student persistence, which is student's progress towards graduation through achieving or meeting educational goals, is widely studied. The focus of a majority of the studies on student persistence is on students at the K-12 and undergraduate levels. Furthermore, while persistence of graduate student population was studied, such studies focused on…

Student retention has been a serious issue for many community colleges globally for several decades. In a community college in Jamaica, persistence rates have been steadily declining within the last several years. The purpose of this study was to investigate students' experiences with the pre-college program that was designed to prepare students…

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…

Underserved students, such as African Americans, first-generation, or those with low-income backgrounds, often face more obstacles when it comes to postsecondary education. In response, many colleges now offer supplemental support programs to increase their chances of success. This study examined two groups of underrepresented students at a…

In this current climate of financial uncertainty and multiple options, student retention is crucial to the well-being of an academic institution. This study explored the role of student integration in the college community of traditional undergraduate institutions by finding a connection between student affairs programs, student social…

Retention of first year college students has been problematic in many U.S. colleges, and different mentoring frameworks have been explored to help resolve the issue. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to examine how the mentoring program at Brown Community College (BCC; pseudonym) positively increased retention of first year…

This dissertation examined whether student social integration through participation in a learning community is associated with the retention of freshman minority students from the first semester to the second semester of their first year in college. A web-based Qualtrics survey questionnaire was administered through social media to the target…