Technological advancements have profoundly transformed business operations and decision-making processes. They underscore the pivotal role of technology in gaining a competitive edge, a critical competency for future business leaders. However, college students in business disciplines, particularly underserved populations, commonly exhibit a lack…

Underserved populations' access to college continues to increase across the United States; however, the number of students from underserved populations attaining college degrees is not growing at the same rate. The purpose of this single case study was to describe how the Collaborative Partners in Success (CPiS) Program supports its participants…

We describe how a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) "enrolling" educational institution can transform its practices to embrace and include student voices and become HSI "affirming and thriving" by focusing on the introductory semester-long public-speaking course as a site for liberatory learning outcomes and by using digital…

Dual enrollment--a program in which high school students take college classes, earning credit for both--is growing at a rapid pace across America's high schools and community colleges. While dual enrollment can help students fulfill high school graduation requirements and simultaneously make progress toward a postsecondary degree, some student…

Recent changes to federal career and technical education (CTE) policy have emphasized the importance of closing access and success gaps in postsecondary CTE among "special" student populations including low-income students, racially minoritized students, students with disabilities, and student groups historically underrepresented in…

This study delves into disparities in undergraduate research participation among Black/African American and Hispanic/Latinx students using large-scale, multi-institutional data. The study's focus is guided by Intersectionality Theory and Quantitative Critical Theory, examining how race, social identities, academic majors, and institutional…

This dissertation consists of three studies exploring factors affecting whether, when and how students engage in sense making in science disciplines, and the epistemological components of instruction that impact their engagement. Each study is grounded in science education reform efforts, including the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS),…

Over half of the students enrolled in public higher education are enrolled in community colleges. For decades, community colleges have provided an avenue for students to transfer to four-year institutions and pursue a bachelor's degree in addition to providing a critical avenue for upward mobility for historically underserved student populations.…

This report provides a synthesis of advice from community college presidents across 15 states, including North Carolina. The advice focuses on recommended areas of innovation that rural-serving institutions should consider in order to align with the changing nature of work and the workforce. While the nature and nuance of innovations at each…

Effective recruitment initiatives for underrepresented student populations interested in pursuing degrees in agricultural-related sciences have the potential to diversify colleges of agriculture while also increasing enrollment. In the current study, we used a qualitative case study approach to examine the effectiveness of the recruitment…

Women's leadership across the globe is often underscored by the dominance of male leadership across time. However, women leaders have made great strides in national leadership and public policy, including access and equity to higher education by underserved, underrepresented, and under-resourced populations within their respective countries. This…

We place deficit-model labels on students who fall behind educational expectations and standards. Public discourses about underserved students pervade U.S-American politics and popular culture and tend to portray these students in a negative light. This study aims to uncover similarities between the dominant societal narratives about underserved…

For Latinx students, attaining a higher education is one the most important achievements they can pursue. According to Gandara and Moredechay (2017), Latinx students encounter many socio-economic struggles such as a lack of familial support and limited educational resources. In fact, many Latinx students come from low-income households, which…

Inclusive postsecondary education (PSE) programs at institutes of higher education offer a variety of benefits to students with intellectual disabilities (ID). Although the number of these programs has grown in recent years, many students -- particularly those from diverse backgrounds -- remain underserved. This study investigated the perceptions…

This study examined if a faculty-run Reading and Writing Lab at a small, private university in the Midwest helped traditionally underserved college freshmen taking developmental English classes increase their levels of self-perceived comprehension and confidence. Students who typically need to take developmental English classes include English as…