This dissertation contributes to a better understanding of performance management systems (PMS) by examining adoption, stringency, and impact of performance-based funding (PBF) in public institutions of higher education within the United States. The public sector has been under increasing pressure to be more accountable to stakeholders--that is,…

This report provides insights into the challenges and factors affecting first-year students' motivation and success as they enter college, including the significant mental toll from the pandemic and economic uncertainty. The findings in this report are taken from data collected in 2022 from nearly 80,000 student records of first- and second-year…

Measurement systems give colleges a structure for collecting, sharing, and acting on data. The guidebook and tools presented here help faculty, staff, college leadership, and policymakers understand and use measurement systems--and specifically use data to improve completion rates, close institutional performance gaps, and facilitate economic…

For the United States to regain the top ranking in the world for college degree attainment, Latinos will need to earn 6.2 million degrees by 2030. To reach the Latino degree attainment goal by 2030, the United States can close the degree completion gap by accelerating Latino completion while increasing for all students and scale up programs and…

"A Dream Derailed? Investigating the Causal Effects of Student Protection Authorization Policies on Student Outcomes after College Closure" is the third and final of three reports from a collaborative research team of State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) and the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center,…

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, an unprecedented number of higher education institutions adopted test-optional admissions policies. The proliferation of these policies and the criticism of standardized admissions tests as unreliable predictors of applicants' postsecondary educational promise have prompted the reimagining of evaluative methodologies in…

As the challenge to broaden participation across STEM fields continues, a fundamental question is: Why are certain universities more successful in granting degrees to students in Underrepresented Groups (URG) than other institutions? What are they doing differently? Are there practices or approaches used by certain institutions that might work for…

In the past decade, Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), institutions that enroll at least 25 percent of undergraduate Latine students, have gained in popularity. With an increasing Latine population and enrollment in higher education, the federal government recognizes HSIs as major contributors to the academic persistence and graduation of…

The focus of this research is adult students enrolled in seven online allied health programs offered by a postsecondary healthcare career institution. The problem under investigation is the retention and timely graduation of adult students in an online learning environment. The question is the extent to which student support services influence…

This study examined perceived barriers and benefits to holistic admission review in physical therapist education (PTE) programs. The mixed methods study utilized both quantitative and qualitative data collected via an online survey to accredited programs and collection of quantitative data from program websites, Physical Therapist Centralized…

Completing a college degree is a major accomplishment under the best of circumstances. The economic and societal value of a college degree has the potential to produce critical benefits for vulnerable populations. For youth who "age out" of foster care, existing data reveal an obvious discrepancy in actual outcomes in comparison to their…

Literature indicates that while attending a predominantly White institution (PWI), Black men often experience stigmatization and feelings of alienation. Despite concerns of racial tension experienced by Black men at PWIs there is limited research exploring the campus climate perceptions of Black men in college. While Black students may have some…

The aim of this research was to examine the influence of fiscal determinants on high school graduation rates for African-American students in Long Island public schools during the 2019- 2020, 2020-2021, and 2021-2022 school years, within the context of various federal initiatives and educational equity policies. Utilizing ANOVA and linear…

Over the past two decades, two-year colleges have seen a dramatic increase in enrollment rates of Black students. However, while two-year colleges have seen a rise in graduation rates of Hispanics, Asians, and White students, two-year colleges have not seen an increase in the graduation rates for Black students. The problem addressed in this study…

Reintegration into civilian life as nontraditional learners pursuing a four-year bachelor's degree remains a challenging career transition and goal achievement for many student veterans seeking career advancement through higher education. There is insufficient research on student veterans' academic achievement, knowledge about perceptions and…