Unlike many earlier models of student persistence that viewed the process of student persistence through the lens of the institution, the model proposed here looks at persistence through the eyes of students. It draws on the research on student motivation, student perceptions, and the impact of student networks on student engagement to propose a…

University and college leaders are tasked with enhancing student outcomes with fewer resources. Student retention is one such key outcome of interest for many policy makers as well as for university administrators. Over the years, administrators have turned to High Impact Practices (HIPs) such as Learning Communities (LCs) to aid in retention.…

A little less than half of the students of higher Ed institutions in the US graduate in four years, and only around 60% finish in six years. Retention rates are also less than ideal. Colleges have been experimenting with a variety of programs and policies to address this issue, especially less selective institutions whose rates are significantly…

Retention and persistence models share common components such as student characteristics, institutional experiences, and academic and social integration. However, few acknowledge basic needs (e.g., food, housing, transportation) and belonging as essential to student success. In this piece, the authors discuss two gaps in these models that should…

The academic dropout of higher education students represents one of the most significant challenges that university institutions have to face today. This research analysed the university academic trajectory of students who dropped out of university for good. The aim of this paper is to examine in depth the factors that influence the idea of the…

Faculty academic advising provides students with academic support to enhance academic persistence and retention. Prior research on faculty academic advising has not included higher education leaders' (HELs') perceptions of the function and purpose of faculty academic advising when creating policies and procedures that are intended to support…

Population dynamics modeling using stage-based transition matrices has been used in ecology for six decades. However, the data analysis method has never been used for students in higher education. This applied doctoral project used the principles of population dynamics to assess two student populations at an institution of higher education…

Higher education institutions have already begun to see decreasing enrollment numbers, even as higher education enrollment is predicted to drop precipitously starting in 2025. Much of the decrease in enrollment will be driven by demographic trends about which higher education institutions can do little, making the retention of students who do…

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected higher education, particularly impacting first generation college students (FGCS). This qualitative case study, framed by the Model of Multiple Dimensions of Identity (MMDI), aimed to identify factors that influenced the retention and persistence of FGCS during the pandemic. By examining FGCS…

This paper presents a comprehensive research project aimed at investigating the transitional supports necessary for nontraditional students both prior to and following their entry into higher education. The overarching research question guiding this study is, in which states does the YouthBuild Program appear to be most effective? This research…

As part of the Biden-Harris Administration's comprehensive response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including but not limited to resources under Executive Order 14000 and the COVID-19 Handbook: Volume 3, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) is committed to efficiently and effectively administering Federal emergency and relief funds and…

Effective academic advising is well-recognized as a central component of student success within higher education. The exponential growth of online education, in combination with an increasingly diverse student population, prompts the need to reexamine best practices in advising. This exploratory, action research study examined the relationships…

The evolution of technology and the delivery of education have changed, making blended learning an in-demand sensation. Many higher education institutions worldwide have been working on ways to implement blended learning in their traditional schools, but the COVID-19 pandemic made this process more urgent. The purpose of this study was to show the…

For-profit, online, higher education institutions have lower student retention rates than institutions in other categories. Higher education leaders are concerned with low retention as it adversely impacts financial and student outcomes. Grounded in Morgan and Hunt's relationship marketing theory, the purpose of this qualitative, exploratory,…

The problem addressed through this project is the decline in the retention of foreign students in U.S. institutions of higher learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the 2020-2021 school year, international student enrollment declined by 15%, demonstrating the direct impact of the pandemic on U.S. institutions of higher learning (Svrluga, 2021).…