This case study examines the transfer experiences and sense of belonging in STEM among historically marginalized and excluded students transitioning from Pima Community College to the University of Arizona. Utilizing mixed methods, survey data from two student cohorts are analyzed to gain insights into their transition process. The study…

This qualitative study explores the unique challenges faced by first-generation college students (FGCS) within a sport management program at a Midwestern university. Drawing from interviews with ten FGCS, this research delves into the academic, social, and career-related obstacles these students encounter over time within the program. Prior…

Although 80% of students who enroll in a community college intend to transfer, less than 35% complete the transfer within six years (Barshay, 2020; Cepeda et al., 2021; Jabbar et al., 2020; Jenkins & Fink, 2015). The demand for college-educated workers has increased, creating a gap in the job market and impacting the economy. As the need for…

Female students, Latinx students, first-generation students, and transfer students often feel uncomfortable in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) environments. However, some departments have been making progress in changing that. Guided by double consciousness and person-environment fit theory, we investigated the lived…

The American Talent Initiative's Student Success Research Grant Program supported research studies aimed at deepening our understanding of the institutional practices and strategies that can improve student success at high-graduation-rate institutions. The findings will offer actionable recommendations for supporting lower-income students, while…

Community colleges are increasingly recognized as providing an accessible and affordable pathway to STEM occupations, particularly for underrepresented racial and ethnic, first-generation, and low-income students. There are several institutional and academic factors that influence transfer outcomes. But one of the most central factors that can…

This article examines how Chinese international students develop a complex understanding of race and racism from a transnational perspective. Through semi-structured interviews and follow-up exchanges with 21 Chinese international undergraduates at a US public research university, the article argues that students' racial learning was jointly…

This study examines how Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) serve Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA&NHPI) students. Through a two-site case study of a community college on the west coast and a regional comprehensive university on the east coast, this study details the…

For-profit colleges' have generated regulatory scrutiny and litigation because of their recruitment tactics, graduation rates, costs and loan default rates. Compared to public higher education institutions, for-profit colleges have been criticized for being more expensive with similar or worse job market outcomes for graduates, who tend to be left…

Despite efforts to foster a more equitable gender representation, Australia's higher education sector and workforce continue to be highly segregated. This article focusses on the gendered experiences of first-in-family (FIF) students--many who are from low-socioeconomic communities--transitioning to Australian universities. In terms of the…

First-generation students often feel alone on college campuses. These students can find themselves excluded from organizations, traditions, and spaces that require financial, social, and cultural capital they may not have. In my Sociology of Work course, I use a family work history project to center and validate their experiences. Using census…

This qualitative study highlights how the use of several interpretative-methods helps to better capture the journey of the participants' transition from low-income, immigrant households to first-generation college students of color at a top-tier research university. I examine a wide range of interpretive practices, from traditional to innovative…

Despite the potential for mutual learning, improvement of service provision, and the advancement of policy, research on first-generation migrant students and research on international students have remained stubbornly separate. This paper makes the case that education research would benefit from leveraging data on international students and that…

This dissertation shed light on the need for higher education institutions to design support systems for undocumented students inside and outside of the classroom, especially when they apply to or attend prestigious universities. In addition, this study highlighted how I survived higher education, my home, and U.S. society through my multiple…

Interpersonal conflict is inevitable as college students live together in residence halls with new and different people (Bresnahan et al., 2009; Ferguson & Lareau, 2021; Fosnacht et al., 2020; Harwood et al., 2012; Morgan et al., 2019; Shook & Fazio, 2008). Whether the conflict stems from small miscommunications to mismatched value…