Nine million students enroll in community colleges each year, but only about one fourth graduates in a timely fashion. Identifying factors associated with student success is of critical importance to students, colleges, and the nation. For this research, I examine factors associated with students' sense of belonging that lead to student retention,…

Understanding the college experiences of Indigenous students in the United States is critical to enhance their goals of educational attainment. Indigenous college students have been historically underserved by institutions they attend, which are often fraught with the uncertainty of belonging and feelings of isolation. A driving force behind this…

National data indicates that community colleges enroll the highest percentage of Black students in higher education. Prior research suggested that increased sense of belonging promoted positive student outcomes and increased persistence of students within two-year campuses. To better understand what contributes to their sense of belonging, the…

International students in the United States have been increasingly attracted to community colleges as a starting point to higher education. Recently, their enrollment has been dropping. Research highlights the importance of student engagement to international students. However, few studies investigate their engagement experiences in community…