Currently, roughly one-third of college students fit the federal government's definition of first-generation college student status, meaning neither parent has earned a baccalaureate degree (RTI International, 2023). This study utilized archival data at an access institution in the southeastern United States in a causal-comparative study using…

This qualitative case study was undertaken to understand the perspectives of first-generation, conditionally-admitted students, regarding how their participation in a college access program may or may not have contributed to their persistence at a Historically Black College and University. This study was grounded in Tinto's (2012) Model of…

To increase equitable postsecondary access and success outcomes it is critical to address the college preparedness gap. While Florida International University (FIU) continues to improve retention and graduation gaps for currently enrolled students, it became evident that the university could play a larger role in preparing high school students for…

Demand is high for engineering students and educators must identify factors affecting persistence and graduation of engineers. Retention and graduation rates remain problematic for many institutions. Higher education research focuses on these two issues as many students head to engineering programs with a wide range of attributes, characteristics,…

Single measures of college performance fail to reflect the mix and diversity of students served. First-time students vary widely in terms of their readiness to succeed in college. Higher education environments (ecosystems) also vary widely and afford students differing admission and transfer opportunities. These factors confound college completion…

Talented students from underserved backgrounds face many barriers to attaining higher education. Two of the most significant impediments are the low quality of primary and secondary schools they attend and the lack of access to top-tier universities providing sufficient financial aid and targeted support. Lower levels of educational attainment are…

Educators, policymakers, and institutions have worked for decades to increase rates of college graduation, but about half of students who enter college drop out without completing a bachelor's degree. Although the rate of student attrition is higher in the United States than in any other industrialized nation, about 30% of U.S. students will drop…

Since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, public colleges and universities have prioritized the health and safety of students, faculty, staff and visitors while continuing to offer an exceptional, affordable learning environment. Public higher education has been agile and responsive. In March 2020, the state system institutions transitioned more…

COVID-19 and the response to the pandemic in Oklahoma and the nation mark this as an unprecedented time in American history. Oklahoma's state system of higher education has responded to the challenges created with flexibility and innovation, transitioning more than 173,000 students to virtual, online, and alternative course delivery formats for…

Central to the goals of "60x30TX" is maintaining Texas as a global economic player by having an educated population, making them aware of their marketable skills, and helping them manage their student loan debt. If the 2016 progress report for "60x30TX" was about getting out the word, this report is about expanding that reach…

The Oklahoma State Regents remain completely committed to maintaining the accessibility and affordability of public higher education for all Oklahomans and increasing the number of college graduates to provide the educated workforce our state requires to be competitive in a dynamic, global economy. This annual report reflects the significant…

Access to college has increased substantially over the last 50 years, but student success--defined as the combination of academic success and degree or certificate completion--has not kept pace. Student success, moreover, generally correlates with students' financial resources: Students from high-income families attend and complete college at…

Higher education is the state's road to jobs and prosperity. No entity in state government can help Oklahoma reach its goals of educational excellence and workforce development faster or more comprehensively than public higher education. More college graduates means an increase in our state's per capita income and a stronger state economy. This…

What works to increase success for Latinos in colleges and universities? Since 2005, Examples of Excelencia has been the only national effort to recognize evidence-based practices that accelerate Latino student success in higher education. Through this process, "Excelencia" recognizes programs in three different academic levels as well…

The 2016 Examples of "Excelencia" recognizes selected programs in higher education at the Associate, Baccalaureate, Graduate levels as well as at Community-Based Organizations (CBOs). The compendium contains one-page program summary of the 4 Examples of "Excelencia" and the 16 finalist programs making a positive difference in…