For almost 40 years, our university's first year writing program has included a shared outcome: "Students will appreciate the capacity of writing to change oneself and the world." This outcome, unlike our more typical composition goals concerning writing processes, rhetorical acumen, and critical research abilities, had never been…

Many community colleges do not have a formal process in place to offer or support a structured gap year option for students who recently graduated from high school, thereby denying those students an educational option that has been recognized as beneficial to many learners. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore factors that…

In order to empower and well prepare student teachers for their future roles, integrating character strengths into their personal development and academic pursuits is crucial. This will equip them to contribute invaluable knowledge and practice to future generations. Given the absence of character strengths research in Myanmar, the investigation…

The purpose of this study is to understand the climates and contexts that promote college students' development of appreciative attitudes toward Jews over four college years. Drawing on an established theoretical framework and a comprehensive literature foundation, we approached this question through an integrative mixed-methods perspective. We…

The U.S. attracts a significant number of international doctoral students each year. As these students navigate cultural and academic systems, understanding their unique experiences and challenges becomes crucial. This study explores the intricate nuances of identity negotiation in the lived experiences of six East Asian international doctoral…

Background: In the United States, the current 6-year completion rate in engineering is a mere 54% among full-time students who enter a 4-year course. Researchers have identified many reasons why students leave engineering, including academic difficulties and poor teaching. However, the problems experienced by the departing students are also…

This dissertation is an exploration of leader identity development and women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) college academic classrooms. While there continues to be research promoting diversity in STEM professions, women remain underrepresented in STEM disciplines, leadership positions, and for this specific study, the…

This study examines students' perceptions of personal growth by applying growth mindset principles through a grounded theory approach. Using qualitative data collected from interviews, the research focuses on beliefs about effort, responses to failure, feedback, and the malleability of intelligence. A theoretical sampling strategy, integral to…

Globally, educational systems were thoroughly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Upper-secondary students were faced with school closures and distance education. For student-athletes, the COVID-19 pandemic, besides academic stress, also contributed to sports-related stress. In this paper, we explore upper-secondary school student athletes'…

A persistent challenge for Australian higher education policymakers and researchers has been to understand why policies and practices have met with limited success in widening the participation and attainment of non-traditional students. This paper explores theorising Narrative Identity as a constructive methodological framework for understanding…

Research on the big-fish-little-pond effect (BFLPE) indicates that students evaluate themselves more favorably when they have high rank in low rank schools than low rank in high rank schools. In this integrated dissertation, I provide three empirical papers examining experiences and forecasts of this effect. BFLPE experiences refer to the impact…

The purpose of this Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis was to understand the extent to which hegemonic masculinity inhibits self-authorship among male undergraduate students at Saint Somewhere College, a small, liberal arts, and Catholic institution of postsecondary education in the northeastern United States. Utilizing Baxter Magolda's…

This study explored how Black women described their experience pursuing a PhD for professional and personal growth. It aimed to provide a valuable resource for Black women considering or currently undertaking doctoral education by offering insights into the experiences of their peers. Furthermore, the research sought to inform decision-making…

This study explores the perceptions of employed MBA students regarding the value of optional micro-credentials and their impact on skill enhancement, career advancement, and personal growth. Utilizing Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), the research involved semi-structured virtual interviews with 15 participants, complemented by…

Currently, the study of non-cognitive variables and their effect on the academic performance of students has gained relevance. In view of that, the purpose of the present study was to analyze through structural equation modeling to what extent growth mindset, self-efficacy, and grit have direct effects on student performance. For this, an…