This quantitative predictive study investigated the intricate dynamics of the Imposter Phenomenon (IP) among online doctoral students, exploring its impact on Student Belongingness (SB) and Self-efficacy (SE). Findings revealed a significant negative association between higher IP scores and decreased SE, highlighting the imperative to address IP…

Online courses are popular in community colleges among students of different backgrounds. However, compared to community college students who take face-to-face courses, those who take online courses earn lower grades and are less likely to receive a diploma or transfer to a four-year institution. Designing courses to facilitate social presence, as…

Despite the increasing number of non-traditional doctoral researchers, this population's experiences remain largely understudied and their voices unheard. Through in-depth interviews with 24 part-time online doctoral candidates, we explored the perceived facilitators and barriers to academic integration and sense of belonging, as well as how…

While fostering a sense of belonging among university students is an objective of many universities, the landscape of belonging is complex and multifaceted. It is worthy of deeper interrogation, particularly for "non-traditional" students. This article draws on data from a national mixed-methods study that explored proactive ways of…

Developing a sense of community (SoC) in college is vital due to its positive impacts on learning and student success. In this study, the researchers examine students' perceptions of SoC in synchronous and asynchronous online courses, with specific interest in the experiences of regional campus students who are often considered to be…

This essay argues that "place" and "space" are a critical conceptual framework in the online writing classroom and leads students to have meaningful writing experiences. Drawing on what Eodice et al. describe as "personal connection" for writing students, the author invites online writing instructors to pay attention…

This qualitative study explores the transition experiences of refugees to study online in Dublin City University (DCU). Asylum seekers face financial, structural, cultural and digital equity barriers to access higher education (HE). In response to these barriers to access, DCU became a 'University of Sanctuary' in 2017, offering scholarships to…

This reflective writing identified components that contribute to increased participation of international ESL in one online graduate course. All the factors identified in the analysis as conducive to greater engagement and elevated participation naturally fell into the three presences of Community of Inquiry (CoI). As such, a new theoretical…

This article examines how online writing projects can provide students an opportunity to critically reflect upon their literal and conceptual position within university spaces. We begin by discussing the underlying connection between classical notions of ethos and spatial dwelling before considering how writing in online environments provides new…

This study examined the student experience (n=507) during emergency remote learning at a medium-sized private southeastern university during the COVID-19 pandemic, leveraging the Social Presence Model (SPM) as a guiding framework. Tensions were high at this critical time as students were stressed with financial burdens, supply shortages,…

This paper examines the learning experiences using student reflections. Data collection was carried out by prompting undergraduate students to reflect on their worst and best experiences, accomplishments, and what they learned through online collaborative activities. The theoretical framework used to explore these experiences was the Community of…

Despite the importance of interpersonal contact to students' sense of community, little is known about how online students form relationships outside of class. Drawing on interviews with 20 students from one online doctoral program, I explore the ways in which distance learners create community outside of class. In the case study I explore how…

With the advancement of technology, more and more degree programs are available in the form of online education. Despite its top ranking in online bachelor's degree programs, Pennsylvania State University's World Campus presents a variety of challenges and opportunities related to students' experiences, feelings, and operation as a…

Online open access courses have become regular offerings of many universities. Building community and connectedness is an important part of branding and success of such offerings. Our goal was to investigate students' experiences with community in an open access course. Therefore, in this study, we explored the sense of community of 342…

This research explores the intersections among learners, online learning, and the development of a sense of community by critically evaluating Canada's first fully-online Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) program at the University of Alberta. A survey with open and closed questions was distributed to all students in the inaugural…