The transition into higher education is a challenging process for many students. Students are often underprepared academically (amongst other aspects). This under-preparedness influences students' subsequent academic performance, and ultimately, overall student success. Research has shown that successful student transition into higher education…

The purpose of this formative program evaluation of a military-to-civilian transition program at a university sought to evaluate participant perceptions of the program. The evaluation focused on the perceptions of program effectiveness after one year of program participation. Because the program was in its first year, it was appropriate to examine…

Higher education institutions are utilizing comprehensive college transition programs (CCTPs) to streamline support, promote retention and success, and address the structural barriers that at-promise students face. Yet, research about the role of CCTPs rarely explores the importance of major and career self-efficacy (MCSE) for these populations,…

Background: In response to the effort to increase minority enrollment in college science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors, STEM summer bridge programs were created to help minorities with the transition from high school to college with the long-term goal of increasing the diversity of professionals in STEM. The goal of this…

Student veterans may encounter educational barriers that can impact transitions to college. This research focused on veteran transitions to college during onboarding. Onboarding is beneficial in a higher education setting and, when properly deployed, can help ease transitions. This study involved the development, implementation, and assessment of…

Background/Context: Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) is a comprehensive program developed by the City University of New York (CUNY) that has demonstrated remarkable success for associate degree-seeking students, nearly doubling the three-year graduation rate in a randomized controlled trial (Scrivener, et al., 2015). The model has…

Arizona State University's (ASU) Bridging Success program, launched in 2015, is a campus-based support program for students with a background in foster care, also known as Foster Care Alumni (FCA). The program is housed within ASU's School of Social Work, which is part of the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions. The program…

The purpose of this qualitative evaluation was to understand how the Ascent program, a bridge initiative at Plymouth State University, programmatically addressed institutional concerns regarding student retention and persistence during its three-year pilot phase, according to the perceptions of past participants, faculty, and administrators. The…

There has been an increasing focus on services aimed at engaging transition-age youth and emerging adults who are at risk of developing, or have developed, behavioral health disorders. However, a need remains for further development of specialized services for this population. This study evaluates a transition-age youth at risk (TYAR) training…

The rising costs of college attendance and the diminishing availability of viable funding sources cause students to incur debt in order to pursue postsecondary education. This dissertation in practice examines how one tribal education funding program contributed to the successful transition between high school and college for the enrolled members…

One of the central issues in ecology is the underrepresentation of individuals from diverse backgrounds. This underrepresentation starts at the undergraduate level and continues into graduate programs, contributing to a need for more diversity in the discipline. We hypothesize that the interplay of students' identities and contextual factors…

A recent analysis of the supply of workers in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields noted a persistent shortage of STEM workers (New American Economy Research Fund, 2017). Specifically, in 2016, for each unemployed worker there were 13 STEM jobs posted online, which translated into a shortage of approximately three…

Summer bridge programs (SBPs) are intended to promote student learning, academic achievement, and persistence to graduation. They are also a viable vehicle for supporting diverse minoritized student constituencies. Our study, guided by a student-centered assessment approach, examined the experiences of incoming first-year students. Findings…

In this practice brief, we offer recommendations for practitioners supporting low-income students, first-generation college students, students of color, and/or students who are academically underprepared. We focus specifically on practices related to students' psychosocial well-being. Our recommendations are based on a multiyear, mixed methods…

Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) across the country have begun to implement intervention programs, such as summer bridge programs, to address potential gaps and aid students in their academic persistence, as Black students continuously persist to graduation at lower rates. However, many programs lack a way to objectively…