As the COVID-19 pandemic was closing businesses, academia had to make the tough decision about their fall 2020 courses. For many institutions, in-person instruction is foundational to the student experience, and opting for an alternate method such as online runs contrary to their mission statements. During summer 2020, Elon University decided to…

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) was one of many universities that adopted a test-optional admissions policy for the Fall 2021 incoming cohort. However, unlike many institutions that went to test-optional admissions out of necessity, the decision made by IUPUI faculty and administration was thoroughly considered, data…

Burnout is a state of physical or emotional exhaustion that also involves depersonalization and a sense of reduced accomplishment, stemming from chronic workplace stress (Maslach 2003). Some higher education professionals experience stressful workplace conditions such as extended business hours and increased responsibilities despite declining…

This study examined the factors related to college choice for NCAA Division III student-athletes to determine which factors were most influential and to understand the degree of influence. Findings may be used by school administrators, coaches, and enrollment managers to recruit more efficiently and increase retention rates for student-athletes.

African American and Latino males' success in postsecondary education depends on several factors. Retention and persistence are one of the most studied factors for exploring the success of African American and Latino male college students. However, few studies focus on the influence of the major selection process on their persistence and…

This literature review explores the transfer commuter student experience and the factors that play a prominent role in this population's collegiate persistence. It aims to provide college and university administrators a more cohesive understanding of this unique and important cohort and to enrich the field of higher ed administration as a whole.…

Theories explaining why students drop out of college have evolved to emphasize interactions between students and their college environments. While the interactionist model underscores the influence of social integration on student retention, few have examined the role of students' social networks in the decision-making process. Drawing on a survey…

The spread of COVID-19 has caused major disruptions in the higher education space, and colleges and universities faced difficult decisions on how to reopen their campuses. At Indiana University Bloomington, student exposure to other students was reduced by leveraging the existing academic calendar and strategically managing course enrollment…

First-generation college students, who are often low-income or from minoritized backgrounds, face many challenges when they enter college. As they begin the college search process, they may seek support from spaces outside of their families to understand and find information. This study used in-depth interviews with first- and second-year…

The decisions to go to college and where are life-altering. Accordingly, college choice theory has been a necessary framework for understanding access and destinations in postsecondary education. The author argues for the need to depart from framing college-going around "choice" and puts forth a timely and context-driven alternative to…

The importance of information is seldom centered in modern college access, college disparities, and college-going discussions. This article situates information and how it shapes college pursuits and intensifies inequities, particularly for minoritized groups. Specifically, the author unpacks two components from the Iloh Model of College-Going…

There has been a substantial increase in the number of graduate students enrolling at higher education institutions in the United States (McFarland et al. 2017). For practitioners and researchers serving in roles that support graduate student success, it is important to have an understanding of current enrollment data and trends as well as the…

Higher education officials have recently begun to focus their attention on summer enrollment as an alternative means by which to improve recruitment and retention. Utilizing business analytics and forecasting, Elon University has seen significant growth in its summer college enrollment and revenue. The current study seeks to address how students…

The mission of higher education is a topic of continual debate among politicians, intellectuals, and employers. As the cost of higher education continues to rise, critics maintain that institutions are not properly preparing students for life after college. Many critics have argued that students are spending too much time participating in…

College and university admissions officers are the gatekeepers who decide which individuals may join the "country club" of higher education. As such, the decisions they make have a significant impact on the lives of individuals, especially those who are willing to travel across the globe and risk living in an unfamiliar country in order…