Objective: We estimated the correlations between the "pathways" chosen by community college students--in terms of desired credentials and fields of study, as well as other choices and outcomes along the paths--and the attainment of credentials with labor market value. We focused on the extent to which there were recorded changes in…

The purpose of this study is to identify determinants of student persistence and degree completion in Louisiana. Currently, the state ranks second to lowest in the nation with individuals who experience higher education and obtain a college degree. Recognition of influential factors on student persistence and degree completion allows legislators…

Structured mentoring programs provide established goals and objectives and clarify expectations and access for the mentee. Institutions often tailor these programs to meet their cultural and leadership needs, guiding the mentee in their current position and future growth opportunities. Such internal programs assist with succession planning and…

Not completing the equivalent of a high school education has significant economic and social implications in the U.S. and globally. When opportunity and information gaps between students are allowed to continue, the impact on dropout rates is considerable. School building leaders and school counselors can collaborate to encourage students'…

The authors describe an undergraduate research program at the City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) organized around high-altitude ballooning and carried out primarily in an open, maker-space environment. Two cohorts of students were recruited. They undertook projects in biology, chemistry, engineering, environmental science, and physics. Via the…

Sunnyside High School in Washington State, a school of more than 1,600 students, had a graduation rate below 50 percent in 2010. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) had repeatedly identified Sunnyside as a low-performing school--that is, in the bottom 5 percent of the state's high schools and therefore qualifying for…

This study tested the authoritative school climate theory that schools characterized by high structure and student support have greater levels of student engagement and that these factors are associated with higher academic achievement, as indicated by school graduation rates and school performance on state-mandated testing. The model was tested…

This study examines the association between educational loans and college graduation rates, with a focus on differences by race and ethnicity. Data come from the 1997 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. Results from the event history analyses indicate that educational loans are positively related to college graduation rates, but only up to a…

This quantitative, correlational study examined the efficacy of a selected group of academic, demographic, and enrollment characteristics as predictors of certificate completion for first-time students pursing one-year programs at a small, Midwestern technical college. Data was collected using an archival survey of records from 367 students who…

The purpose of this program evaluation is to examine the effectiveness of one Communities in Schools (CIS) program within a Title 1 Suburban High School in the Southeastern United States. The areas of foci include student attendance, grade level promotion, and graduation rate during the 2016-2017 school year. The program evaluation was designed to…

Since the beginning, the field of higher education has represented the possibility of a better future for many. For some, education represents a way to better oneself and to prepare for a future career. This is the one of the strongest drivers of going to college, that it will open doors to a better future. The number of students attending…

Because statistical relationships between persistence and completion rates and ethnicity/race exist at most U.S. institutions of higher education, the movement in public policy toward performance-based funding models might have disproportionate effects on Hispanic-serving community colleges. The desire to understand the representation of student…

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) is focused on improving the 5-year graduation rates for all students with disabilities. To make progress toward the state-identified measurable result (SIMR), the state recognized that a single evidence-based practice (EBP) would not address the diverse needs of all the local entities across…

Base Pair is an ongoing (1992-present) collaboration between University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) faculty mentors and Mississippi high school students and teachers. UMMC faculty and Base Pair teachers designed a course which has allowed curriculum innovations by teachers. The student component engages 15 trainees annually in laboratory…

Australia is following a global trend in doctoral education policy to improve PhD completion times and rates. It is widely believed that accurate data on PhD completion are needed to assess the success of reforms and drive changes in doctoral education. In this article, new national completion data (2005-2018) provided by the Australian Department…