Authentic assessments in higher education typically imply the replication of real-world tasks. Psychological authenticity is the perceived alignment between an individual's internal reference sources (i.e. personal values and beliefs) and their actions. Applying psychological authenticity logic to assessment tasks, we investigated students'…

Understanding what expectations first-year students have for their first semester of college can help university faculty, staff, and administrators have a better understanding of how to best provide support and resources that meet the needs of their students and lay the necessary foundations for their academic and social success early on.…

Short, preparatory 'foundation year' courses have exploded in popularity in recent years, but they have drawn criticism from policymakers. Like Access diplomas, they serve to support people from all backgrounds to enter higher education. This HEPI Report asks whether foundation years are effective tools for widening access -- or whether, when it…

The transition to university is a time of great change and adjustment. The challenges of university life can lead to numerous negative consequences for the students. Despite the importance of successful transition for both the student and the university, the current body of literature comprises methodological inconsistencies and disparate…

At the transition to higher education, students from diverse backgrounds develop peer networks that support learning in higher education. However, few studies have investigated how students' background characteristics play a role in social selection mechanisms such as friendship and help-seeking and what drives the formation of diverse peer…

The Center for First Generation College Student Success (2020) defined first generation college students (FGCS) as, "an undergraduate student whose parents do not have a bachelor's or higher degree." FGCS have to navigate many aspects of college without parent(s) who have experienced college themselves. After applying and being accepted…

The purpose of this case study was to explore the transitional process and support systems for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) matriculating at institutions of higher education without formalized ASD-support programs. Students with ASD experience increased transitional challenges as they begin their college careers due to their…

The influence of Artificial Intelligence on higher education is increasing. As important drivers for student retention and learning success, generative AI-tools like translators, paraphrasers and most lately chatbots can support students in their learning processes. The perceptions and expectations of first-years students related to AI-tools have…

Considering the shortcomings of large evaluation errors, long time, human, and material resources in the evaluation process of the current college teaching mode to improve the accuracy of the evaluation of college teaching mode and reduce the cost of the evaluation, this study proposes an evaluation method for college teaching methods based on…

Higher education institutions provide critical opportunities for students to acquire the skills necessary to enter the STEM workforce and serve as vital partners in the STEM educational-occupational pipeline. It is important that colleges and universities ensure that all undergraduates interested in STEM professions have the opportunity to see…

Scholars and practitioners have argued that higher education in prison (HEP) can help transform incarcerated people and prepare them to re-enter society in productive ways. Viewing education as a mechanistic device that can help incarcerated students attain jobs or skills without engaging with larger questions of personal growth and fulfillment,…

Tutors play an important role in higher education, as they may facilitate learning, promote engagement, and assist with student success. Students also often feel more comfortable seeking assistance from them than from lecturers. Yet, tutors tend to be sidelined in the literature on teaching and learning, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. The…

Developmental Education reform has been a vital topic in the field of higher education for decades. There have been several initiatives to further engage under-prepared college students and move them through gateway courses like freshman-level English and Math. One of the more emergent instructional models is referred to as co-requisite…

Critical thinking has become an essential skill required by both higher education and the workforce. Research to date has reported moderate cross-sectional learning differences in critical thinking as students progress through a 4-year college. However, retention, differential participation, and students' low test-taking motivation possibly…

Course dropout is a concern in online higher education, mainly in first-year courses when different factors negatively influence the learners' engagement leading to an unsuccessful outcome or even dropping out from the university. The early identification of such potential at-risk learners is the key to intervening and trying to help them before…