This dissertation traces the way hair is framed in judicial texts about dress code policy in the U.S. between 1969 and 2023. Using 46 court cases from district, appellate, state supreme, and federal supreme courts, the study first considers how dress code is brought to courts over these 54 years, and the kinds of legal claims made in these cases.…

In "Garcetti v. Ceballos" (2006), the Supreme Court of the United States held that public employees are not protected by the First Amendment when they speak pursuant to their official duties. The dissenting justices raised the question of how this precedent might be inappropriately applied to faculty at public colleges and universities.…

In a world where decisions are increasingly scrutinized to ensure fairness across legally protected groups, it is critical to apply such scrutiny in a manner that is consistent with the law. This dissertation attempts to reconcile the legal definition and empirical measurement of disparate impact, one of two forms of discrimination recognized by…

Institutions of higher education (IHEs) have been federally mandated to prevent and respond to reports of sexual violence on campus via Title IX for over 30 years as the trauma that results from campus sexual assault is considered prohibitive to accessing education. Yet, students may not be the only parties harmed when sexual violence is…

U.S. policies such as the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 and the Americans with Disabilities Act support the inclusion of adults with disabilities in all areas of employment. Through WIOA, the federal government required public entities to provide training and help job seekers with disabilities access high-quality, competitive,…

This study employs legal research methods to explore how federal protections for individuals with disabilities apply in the context of postsecondary extended reality (XR) learning, such as for classes taught in virtual reality. Other examples include the use of 360 degree, interactive videos in online courses and activities that leverage digital,…

The purpose of this quantitative research study was to describe the faculty's knowledge, beliefs, and willingness to provide ADA accommodations to students with disabilities at a Southern HBCU. The sample used in this study was 70 full-time and part-time instructors who taught during the Spring of 2023 at a Southern HBCU. The study utilized a…

Historically, the educational journey for Blacks has chronicled both struggles and progress, dating back to slavery when Blacks were denied educational rights, and now as many face the consequences of the resegregation of schools. The resegregation of schools perpetuates social and racial inequalities, particularly in southern states like…

Higher education diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives have become an imperative for institutional change in an ever-changing pluralistic society. The impact of diversity on college campuses has come a long way since the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Chang, 2005), but there is still needed work. Higher education institutions continue to…

Pregnant college students have been increasingly successful in proving sex-based discrimination prohibited by Title IX, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act. Higher education administrators are responsible for Title IX compliance through policy development and adherence but must rely on faculty…

The 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act improved access to postsecondary education for disabled students, yet they are still marginalized and leave university at rates 17% higher than nondisabled students (Lombardi & Lalor, 2017). The specific problem is that disabled students face compounding barriers to success, including oppressive…

Strategies to recruit and hire faculty and staff of color to the Commonwealth of Kentucky's population levels have continued for 57 years. From Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to the Kentucky Plan in 1982 to the Strategic Plan for Kentucky Higher Education from 1982 to 1995, to the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education's 2010-2015…

College students with disabilities face institutional challenges related to pursuing their education. In addition to the developmental changes that occur during young adulthood, these students also must overcome obstacles involving inaccessible environments, programs, services, and instructional approaches. Colleges and other service providers are…

Since the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990 many works related to the ADA and how higher education programs comply with the ADA have been published. However, few studies have investigated the factors associated with educational completion for students with physical disabilities (SWPD) in physical therapist programs. The…

This qualitative study utilized narrative inquiry to examine the experiences of disability service professionals working with students with significant cognitive disabilities in college-level courses. Through 10 semi-structured interviews with disability service professionals within the Florida College System, the following four meta themes…