Language is not static. It flows like a river in response to the riverbank and the rocks that border and run beneath it. In the same way, glossaries are dynamic expressions of current language usage. Developmental education and learning assistance have changed dramatically in recent years, and so must also the language used to describe and define…

Student experience and belonging is a primary driver of postsecondary learning, persistence, and completion. This paper provides strategies that can help policymakers and leaders at all levels to cultivate positive student experiences and foster students' sense of belonging, leading to strong academic performance, retention, and good mental…

New student success interventions generate costs for colleges (for example, staff time and supplies). However, if they lead more students to remain enrolled, cause students to attempt more credits, and improve longer-term student outcomes, they can also generate tuition revenue and state funding (for public institutions in states that allocate…

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…

The metrics presently being used to gauge student success have become outdated and irrelevant. Enrollment, persistence, and degree attainment are secondary measures, missing entirely the question of whether students are truly achieving an effective life skillset while attempting to complete degree or graduation fulfillment. Student success, and…

Purpose: The fundamental purpose of this study is to analyse the determinants of higher education quality in Afghanistan based on insights from student perceptions. Understanding this part holds paramount importance in enunciating sound policies for the smooth functioning of the higher education sector of Afghanistan. Design/methodology/approach:…

A growing number of college students today are First-Generation. First-Generation (FG) college student experiences and performance on student success measures differ from their peers whose parents have earned college degrees (Astin, 1975; Chen & Carroll, 2005; Ishitani, 2006; Pascarella et al., 2004). The purpose of this quantitative study was…

The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities' Powered by Publics (PxP) Equity Roundtable initiative brought students and administrators together to participate in roundtable discussions to capture barriers related to access, success, and career pathways for historically underrepresented students in higher education. The roundtables were…

Measurement systems give colleges a structure for collecting, sharing, and acting on data. The guidebook and tools presented here help faculty, staff, college leadership, and policymakers understand and use measurement systems--and specifically use data to improve completion rates, close institutional performance gaps, and facilitate economic…

Purpose: The choices that international students make regarding abroad study destination selection or leave the host country after graduation are influenced by a variety of factors that are both related to positive and negative aspects of the host country. Design/methodology/approach: This study builds on the push-pull factor theory and examines…

Co-curricular activities have been shown to impact many measures of academic success, such as academic self-confidence, leadership abilities, identity development, personal development, and student thriving. Borrowing from established research paradigms on pluralistic ignorance, the current study sought to explore whether first-year and senior…

In 2015, the University of Southern California (USC) began a longitudinal, mixed-methods evaluation of the Thompson Scholars Learning Communities (TSLC), a comprehensive college transition program that provides students with multiple, integrated types of support. The evaluation as a whole examined whether, how, and why TSLC, as implemented at the…

This dissertation builds on literature centering first-generation college students (FGCS) with immigrant parentage in order to develop an understanding of how many of their unique and intersectional experiences may function as assets that could promote retention and degree completion. The sample is comprised of 30 FGCS who are also first- or…

Latinx Californians represent the largest ethnic group in the state, with a demographic that is disproportionately young. The state must significantly increase the educational opportunity and success of Latinx Californians, ensuring that more of them are prepared for college, attend college, and graduate with the skills necessary to thrive…

The future of California will be defined by ensuring better educational opportunity for Latinx Californians. While historic numbers of Latinx students are graduating from high school prepared for college and are enrolling in higher education, these numbers are still too low. Inequitable access to college opportunity and success in graduating with…