It is the goal of this qualitative research project to explore the accessibility and equity of students with disabilities in higher education through the lens of a current practitioner. This research was conducted through a 3-document dissertation in the forms of an empirical research paper, a policy paper, and a needs-based assessment/strategic…

Authors discuss how to utilize culturally engaging campus frameworks, tools, and practices in summer bridge programs to increase access and success for racially minoritized students.

Student success in higher education (HE) is dependent on the possession of a positive learner identity, the development of which is a complex longitudinal process of change. Exploring the growth of learner identity within the transition between school and university is therefore apposite, especially for learners from disadvantaged backgrounds who…

This book helps educational leaders provide support for students who face significant barriers to college access, success, and retention. The authors offer research-based, practical guidance to allow readers to evaluate these issues within their local context, create and implement a plan of action, and sustain those efforts over time. Vignettes…

Successful transition of secondary school students into tertiary study is a priority for secondary schools, tertiary institutions and government alike (see, for example, Bazerman, 2007; Batholomae, 2005). The National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) has, as one of its goals, the effective preparation of senior secondary students for…

The engagement and retention of commencing students is a longstanding issue in higher education, particularly with the implementation of the widening student participation agenda. The early weeks of the first semester are especially critical to student engagement and early attrition. This study investigated the perceived early transition needs of…

This report uses Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) data to look at the impact of schools on a student's tertiary entrance rank (TER) and the probability of them going to university (controlling for TER). It shows that the characteristics of schools do matter: although young people's individual characteristics are the main drivers of…

The objective of the study presented here was to understand the experiences of teachers in assisting students with visual impairments in making the transition to higher education. The teachers reported barriers in high school that affect students' access to and success in higher education. Furthermore, institutions of higher education provided…

Latinos are far more likely to begin postsecondary education in community colleges, and in fact roughly 51% are concentrated in this sector. Yet it is well documented that few manage to successfully complete the transition from a two- to a four-year college or university, making transfer the key leakage point in the pathway to the baccalaureate.…

This paper examines the perceptions and interactions of disadvantaged young people returning to mainstream education through Street Kids Access Tertiary Education (SKATE), a university bridging program in Sydney, Australia. Although both males and females in the study shared common backgrounds of disadvantage, "second-chance" educational…

Attention to the origins, history, and evolution of the First-Year Experience (FYE) movement in American higher education can inform institutional practices aimed at enhancing transition experiences of students.

Describes Postsecondary Counselor Program for increasing college success of rural Native American students in Alaska's Yukon-Koyukuk School District. Discusses program staffing and organization, program activities, graduate success after high school, and implementation steps (needs assessment, school board involvement, and counselor selection and…

The University of Wisconsin System and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction have been involved in a multi-year program since 1998. One goal of the program has been to align curricula within the K-16 system of education in Wisconsin. The purpose of the Curriculum Articulation Project has been to work with educators in the state of…

Designed for students with disabilities, this publication outlines the steps needed for successful transition from high school to college and beyond. The guide urges students to find out about institutional entrance requirements, maintain a high grade point average, take pre-college examinations, take care with college applications, find financial…

Although community colleges currently account for over half of minority enrollment in America, there is controversy regarding whether the colleges actually provide minority students with access to higher education or merely track them into low-level studies. A number of barriers to success face minority community college students, such as…