The challenges facing higher education institutions across this country continue to increase, becoming more and more complex with each passing semester. Higher education administrators and those who aspire to be such must constantly stay abreast of all potential adverse issues, but especially those that affect the educational success of our…

The Parent PLUS loan covers the financial gap of a student's educational expenses after other forms of financial assistance. Depending on the unmet need, the PLUS loan amount borrowed can be tens of thousands of dollars for a single academic year. In this research article, I provide results from evaluating financial aid offers at Missouri public,…

This study examines the relationship of expected family contribution (EFC) with student success for 427 freshmen students enrolled at Belhaven University in the Fall of 2016 and 2017. Success is measured by grade point average (GPA) and credit hours completed during the student's freshman year. These two critical factors are used to determine a…

Student belonging is a burgeoning topic in education research because of its positive association with persistence and graduation. It is thought to underscore why students minoritized on a campus, either by race or social class, have higher rates of departure and lower levels of well-being than students who make up the majority (Gillen-O'Neel…

This comparative case study was conducted to explore how family contributions are garnered and allocated at two socioeconomically different schools in Kansas and how those contributions mitigate or exacerbate existing inequities between schools. The Parent Teacher Association at each school was a focus of the study as it is the main avenue for…

Previous research on social mobility focuses almost exclusively on individual outcomes, leaving out the important effects individuals' educational attainment may have on whole families. This dissertation extends the literature by investigating the role that earning a degree may play in social mobility for first-generation college graduates and…

Every society invests enormous resources to ensure that children grow up with the skills, knowledge, and values that will enable them to be successful. Yet cultures vary in their beliefs about what effective parenting and teaching require. Nurturing children involves a collaboration among parents, teachers, and students and reflects cultural…

Retention rates of first generation college student (FGCS) became a growing concern for leaders of educational institutions in the U.S. FGCS were several times more likely to exit college without a degree as compared to their traditional counterparts. The Model of Institutional Departure offered a general framework of college student retention.…

Misconceptions on affordability remain a barrier to postsecondary access for millions of potential students. When students recognize financial aid availability during secondary school years, they gain the capability to better establish a curricular path that aligns with postsecondary aspirations. This dissertation assesses the use of…

The purpose of this qualitative research was to explore how self-identified academically successful students perceived their nonresident African American fathers' involvement in their education and to determine ways to encourage paternal participation in schools. Joyce Epstein's Six Types of Parental Involvement Typology was used to assess how the…

The number of first-generation students entering higher education has increased over the years. Unfortunately, their retention rates are lower than their peers (Cahalan & Perna, 2015; Robb et al., 2012). The Portuguese comprise the largest immigrant population in southern New England, many of whom are first-generation students (MAPS, 2016).…

This study utilized a quantitative design using archival data from Johnson County Community College (JCCC), located in Johnson County, Kansas, and the Office of Financial Aid for students who graduated, withdrew or dropped out of the college in academic years 2006, 2007 and 2008. Because this study used archival data, we can only show…