The researcher used qualitative phenomenology to study the perception of first-generation college students who have successfully persisted at an HBCU. The researcher sought to determine whether first-generation students who persist in college perceive parental involvement to be a contributing factor. Today, over 37% of students enrolled in…

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and suicidality are highly prevalent and increasing social problems among the college and university student population, thereby underscoring a need to better understand the relationship between ACEs and suicidal risk, ideation, and attempts during college. There is also a need to examine current suicide…

The Postsecondary Teaching with Technology Collaborative (the Collaborative) is currently researching the obstacles students face in online STEM courses and the ways that institutions and instructors can better support these students. As part of this research program, the authors conducted qualitative research in partnership with six community…

Through this dissertation, I seek to examine the sports retirement of Division II Black male student-athletes and how they negotiate their identity as they transition into sports retirement. Consistent with similar research on Black male student-athletes, this dissertation makes the argument that the racialization of many college campuses…

Reading morphologically complex words requires analysis of their morphemic subunits (e.g., play + er); however, the positional constraints of morphemic processing are still little understood. The current study involved three unprimed lexical decision experiments to directly compare the positional encoding of stems and affixes during reading and to…

An algebraic model uses a set of algebraic equations to describe a situation. Constructing such models is a fundamental skill, but many students still lack the skill, even after taking several algebra courses in high school and college. For such students, we developed instruction that taught students to decompose the to-be-modelled situation into…

In an era of profound antisemitism, it is essential that higher education leaders and campus communities provide additional, direct support to Jewish students. In this space, we introduce recent literature on Jewish identity expressions and campus climates for bolstering Jewish appreciation in hopes of catalyzing necessary conversations with…

College student activists catalyze reform on campus and beyond--yet, we know little about how these students perceive mattering on campus. Given that mattering is linked to positive student outcomes, educator commitment to caring for student activists is critical. This work, grounded in semistructured interviews and a constructivist lens, explored…

Burnout is common among students and can negatively influence their motivation, performance, and wellbeing. However, there is currently little consensus regarding how to intervene effectively. Consequently, we provide the first systematic review and meta-analysis of studies examining the effectiveness of interventions aimed at reducing burnout in…

Regular physical activity (PA) can reduce the risk of chronic diseases and improve cognitive function and emotional health. Unfortunately, many college students are inactive and at risk for chronic diseases and mental health conditions. Therefore, innovative exercise interventions that promote PA in this population are needed. PA adherence is…

The journey to pursue and persist with a career in STEM is a complex process that begins at a young age, continues across secondary education and the end of school transition to university. Such decisions are influenced by a range of personal, social and environmental factors, highlighting the practical complexities of supporting young people in…

A 'flipped classroom' creates a dynamic and effective learning environment where students learn basic knowledge at home and engage in active learning activities during the class. It has been widely used across different STEM (Science, Technology, Environment, Mathematics) disciplines. However, there is a lack of systematic and quantitative…

This paper presents the results of a multi-year effort to redesign the introduction to business course at Western Michigan University. ScrimmageSIM, a business simulation that emulates commercial ERP systems, provides the core experience in the course and is a mechanism for students to develop their understanding of business with a focus on…

Background: Extensive use of social media is well-documented as being associated with poor mental health in college students. Evidence of its association with perceived stress in this population is inconclusive. Purpose: To examine the association between daily time spent on social media and perceived stress among U.S. college students. Methods:…

Evolving or stagnant immigration laws and policies may distinctly shape the experiences of undocumented students by shifting access to rights or opportunities. I draw upon 30 interviews with college students in California to analyze how they encountered legal vulnerability. I argue that legal vulnerability can be dismissed, dormant, or…