This study addresses the persistent challenge of student retention in higher education by investigating the often-neglected role of staff in shaping student belonging and success, with a specific focus on open-enrollment, dual-mission institutions in Utah. Recognizing the complexities introduced by shifting student demographics and the growth of…

Many variables influence the success of a teacher candidate in a certification program. Using Duckworth's "12-Item Grit Scale," this study sought to explore the relationship between the grittiness of teacher candidates and their dispositions, both prior to and during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although based on a small…

Anchored in intersectionality theory and minority stress theory, this study examined campus climate and sense of belonging for 77,997 undergraduates at 49 North American higher education institutions. This study was guided by three research questions: (Q1) What is the relationship between undergraduate students' sense of belonging outcomes and…

Research conducted on transfer student outcomes consistently shows that there is a bachelor's degree completion gap between transfer students and nontransfer students. Researchers have explored several factors thought to impact bachelor's degree completion for transfer students, including demographic characteristics, number of credit hours…

In Utah, earning a general education certificate or an associate degree increases the likelihood of earning a bachelor's degree. This analysis uses data from Utah's public higher education institutions, tracking students who first earned a general education certificate or associate degree in the 2016-17 academic through the 2022-23 academic year.

Despite a multitude of possible explanations for racial and ethnic group differences in collegiate achievement, scholars have continued to call for new research and theories to better explain this ongoing phenomenon. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to investigate the relationship between grit, racialized campus experiences, and college…

Students who drop out of university cite various reasons for their decision. Female enrolment has significantly increased over the past few decades and is now higher than male enrolment. In terms of performance, it is recognised that women perform better than males do, and fewer women drop out of university than men do. However, the relationship…

Previous studies identified student-specific and institutional factors that impact community college student retention. However, few studies have examined associations between commodity prices and community college student retention. Guided by rational choice theory, we examine the relationship between annual, state-level gasoline prices and…

This study examines differences in anxiety levels among university students. Of particular concern is COVID-19 anxiety and differences among enrollment levels. The study employed a cross-sectional survey research design and snowball sampling. The sample of 55 university students included 16 graduate students. Anxiety was measured by the…

Scholarship on first-year seminar (FYS) courses is rapidly growing and diversifying. However, the available knowledge, for the most part, remains fragmented and limited to only one institutional setting, seminar type, or student group. Accordingly, this meta-synthesis was designed to examine 2 decades of research on FYS courses to determine the…

As they navigate the social and academic expectations of a new college, transfer students commonly suffer "transfer shock," or a sudden drop in GPA. However, little is known about why some students suffer transfer shock, why some bounce back, and the consequences in terms of student retention. This analysis of over 25,000 transfer…

We conducted a systematic review to generate a comprehensive understanding of cisgendered girls' mathematical identity within the United States to better understand: (a) how mathematical identity is associated with girls' participation, engagement, and achievement in mathematics; (b) the factors related to girls' mathematical identity; and (c)…

This phenomenological study examines how women and Students of Color who attend a small undergraduate predominately white institution (PWI) make meaning of their experiences in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and how individual and contextual factors influence whether they decide to stay, leave, or add an STEM major. We…

Background/purpose: Emotional regulation and academic grit significantly influence students' academic success. This study aimed to examine the relationship between emotional regulation and academic grit among high-achieving university students. Additionally, it explored potential gender and academic specialization differences in these constructs.…

The purpose of this qualitative case study is to understand the experiences of adult graduate students who stop-out, or take a break from enrollment, but who ultimately persist by reenrolling. The participants in this study were enrolled in an online master's degree program. Symbolic interactionism was the theoretical framework for this study…