This phenomenological study explores the meaning that those who feel called to teach make out of their adjunct teaching experience in higher education. In addition to understanding more about how these individuals describe their call to teach, the study explores how adjunct faculty characterize the relationship between personal identity, calling,…

This interpretative phenomenological study was conducted to understand how a nursing college's organizational structure may affect a returning nursing student's sense of empowerment and motivation to succeed. A returning student is a student who previously failed in a nursing program and was reaccepted to the Maine College of Health Professions's…

A rapid increase of nontraditional learners enrolling in online education has resulted in the need for further research on the persistence of highly nontraditional students in online settings. As the enrollment of nontraditional students in online courses continues to grow, instructors face challenges with implementing effective course content and…

Students in associate degree nursing (ADN) programs in the United States experience high attrition rates in the first year. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between preadmission factors and first-year ADN program completion rates at one college in the south central United States. Constructivist…

I use a detailed panel of data and a unique modeling specification to explore how public schoolteachers respond to the incentives embedded in North Carolina's retirement system. Like most public-sector retirement plans, North Carolina's teacher pension implicitly encourages teachers to continue working until they are eligible for their pension…

The teaching profession has both retention and recruitment problems. High teacher turnover, paired with teacher shortages, has and will prove costly for all schools, particularly those in high poverty areas. Research in other professions suggests that attitudes and perceptions of work matter in both performance and in retention, yet, too often,…

In 2011, the University of Delaware underwent an evaluation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The evaluation raised concerns about the university's lack of campus diversity, low five-year graduation rates for underrepresented minorities, and the potential decline in Latino student enrollment as a result of rising admissions…

Severe teacher shortages, caused by high attrition rates, have been the focus of attention for school districts and policy leaders for over two decades. Teacher attrition accounts for approximately 40 to 50% of new teachers leaving in the first 5 years of service. High teacher attrition rates in the United States impact tomorrow's leaders,…

This qualitative case study determination was to explore the reasons elementary teachers are resigning from urban South Eastern public schools in the United States. The purpose of this study focused on uncovering emergent themes regarding both helpful and hindering factors associated with elementary teachers' success within the classroom. More…

Research regarding teachers who work in segregation/restrictive housing units within correctional facilities is lacking. Little is known about their experiences and how the trauma they encounter impacts them personally and professionally. Despite this lack of information, prison reforms continue to seek increased educational involvement in…

According to former President Obama's Council on Advisors of Science and Technology (PCAST) analysis on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) graduation rates, the study concluded that United States will require an increase in STEM graduation rates by 40% to keep up with future job demands. The PCAST findings and National Center…

There are more students expecting a teaching career than there are teachers in the current population. On average across OECD countries, 4.2% of 15-year-old students expect to work as teachers--a greater proportion than the share of teachers in the adult population. An analysis of 2015 data from the Programme for International Student Assessment…

Underrepresented student populations are faced with numerous barriers and are often overlooked on many college campuses. The aim of this research was to better understand academic cohorts and if they help reduce some of the barriers faced by African American and first-generation students which can ultimately affect retention and persistence to…

This study investigated the cognitive factors that impact the completion of mathematics problems, specifically algebraic-reasoning, by individuals who use tactile materials (i.e., braille) compared to those who use print materials. The inquiry investigated working memory, task time, cognitive load, efficiency, and the predictive quality of…

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the influence of collegiate experiences of non-heterosexual African American males (AAMs) on their retention and persistence. Eight non-heterosexual AAMs participated in interviews where they described their college experiences and their perceived impact on their retention and persistence.…