While there are many calls to maintain Catholic values in National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) and (arch)diocesan standards for Catholic school leaders, there is still a lack of guidance on operationalized support for gender-expansive students. This lack of clarity hinders the ability of leaders of Catholic schools to support and…

The community college serves both a role and a purpose within the higher educational and social landscape of America. As access to and through these institutions remains increasingly important in our ever-changing society, the purpose of this research was to shift the lens to not only include but to center the communities to which it serves. This…

There is limited research on the relationship between the Impostor Phenomenon (IP) and School Belongingness (SB) of college students in an Educational Opportunity Program (EOP). The present study examined the extent to which first-year college students in an educational opportunity program experience the impostor phenomenon and school…

The transitional experience from the military into higher education can pose unique challenges to student veterans, especially for those who seek to obtain professional licensure in nursing. This action research study sought to identify and understand these challenges. Participants and data collected in Cycle 1 were student veterans entering…

Retention of first-generation college students (FGCS) following their first year is key for continued financial success of the students and institutions of higher education. To determine how FGCS develop a sense of belonging at institutions of higher education in order to re-enroll in their second year of college was investigated. Ten individual…

The purpose of this Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis was to understand the extent to which hegemonic masculinity inhibits self-authorship among male undergraduate students at Saint Somewhere College, a small, liberal arts, and Catholic institution of postsecondary education in the northeastern United States. Utilizing Baxter Magolda's…

Growing enrollment in full-time, K-12 virtual public schools has pushed education leaders to reexamine the strengths and weaknesses of online learning through the lens of child development and adolescent needs. This quantitative study informs K-12 education stakeholders and policymakers at the high school level on decisions regarding online…

When developing school improvement plans and implementing transformational change, why not ask students? Involving students and listening to their voice can provide a better understanding of what is needed and how the school improvement process can be enhanced to promote growth. Principals play a significant role in the leadership of school…

This phenomenological study explored perceived first-generation college student retention at a Texas four-year higher education institution post-vertical transfer. The participants in this study consisted of 12 full-time and part-time students who identified as first-generation college students and had vertically transferred from a two-year higher…

This case study examines the transfer experiences and sense of belonging in STEM among historically marginalized and excluded students transitioning from Pima Community College to the University of Arizona. Utilizing mixed methods, survey data from two student cohorts are analyzed to gain insights into their transition process. The study…

This qualitative phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of first-generation college student-athletes (FGCSA) at National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III institutions and how their participation in intercollegiate athletics influenced their sense of belonging. A total of 10 FGCSA participants from three member…

Previous research related to Youth Adult Partnership, Empowerment and Empowering Environments, and Liberatory School Design all highlight the importance of relationships in ensuring that young people experience school environments as empowering. Currently, there is a lot of interest and energy around redesigning schools to be Learner-Centered, in…

The problem addressed in this study was the high rate of student nursing attrition. The purpose of this qualitative single case research study was to identify perceived barriers to program completion for registered nursing pre-licensure students to determine ways to help students overcome these challenges. The conceptual framework for this…

Students with disabilities have lower rates of graduation from institutions of postsecondary education as compared to their nondisabled peers (National Council on Disability, 2020). Supports for disabled students in higher education have relied primarily on a deficit-based, regulatory model of access, ignoring a more wholistic approach to access…

In the United States, approximately 45% of high school students are either not engaged (28%) or actively disengaged (17%) in the academic process. Increasing a school's average student engagement yields an increase in reading and math achievement. This study evaluates a school connectedness program, Promoting Positive School Engagement (PPSE)…