Entering the middle of the 21st Century, Texas has the ninth-largest economy in the world, whose success is powered by the increasingly educated workforce. Texans have earned more degrees, certificates, and credentials over the past decade than at any time in history, and Texas has outpaced every other state in growing undergraduate and graduate…

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between Navigate, a technology-aided advisement platform to support student success, and the retention of full-time, First Time in College-Direct Entry students in the fall 2018 and 2019 cohorts, as measured by the number of credits attempted during their first year at public college in the…

With some creative thought and effort, teachers can intentionally turn their diplomas into effective environmental cues. By creating a diploma wall, teachers can encourage student engagement and motivation. Diplomas on display become more than part the office decor as they connect students to thoughts and behaviors needed for college success.…

Today higher education in the United States faces the challenges of increased demand and escalating cost in the face of stagnant graduation rates. Of particular interest to the public are tax payer supported postsecondary institutions. The traditional method of funding public colleges and universities based on enrollment has shifted in 32 states…

Completion of a college degree, as reflected by graduation rates, is a priority for campus administrators, politicians, families, and students. When students do not graduate, it has an effect on students, families, institutions, and surrounding communities. Colleges and universities, whether public or private, may find financial support declining…

Years ago, we learned of a higher education institution with a wonderful reputation for excellence that had incredible silos and disparate processes that were not student friendly. These processes included requiring students to reapply and have their transfer credit reevaluated if they wanted to change majors that were in different colleges at the…

The purpose of the study was to investigate how promoting participation in KEY Careers, a career intervention program available to all incoming matriculates, influenced 1-year retention and 4-year graduation rates compared to nonparticipants at a singular institution. Archival data of 14,099 matriculates from the 2011-2014 freshman fall cohorts…

Food insecurity is a growing concern at universities across the country. Data from a large (n = 6,823) cross-sectional, single-campus survey were analyzed to understand the coping strategies college students employ to avoid, manage, or alleviate food insecurity. Findings from quantitative and qualitative data suggest that students engage in and…

Students of color remain underrepresented in social work education programs. According to the Council on Social Work Education (2016), only 37.4% of the 19,596 BSW degrees awarded during the 2014-2015 academic year were awarded to students from historically underrepresented groups. Through the lens of empowerment theory, this article presents a…

The U.S. doctoral education system ranks as one of the best in the world (National Science Foundation, 2018). Yet, doctoral attrition rates have averaged approximately 50% for decades (Church, 2009; Gardner, 2008; Lovitts, 2001). Research on the education doctorate (Ed.D.) is limited and often overshadowed by the larger body of Ph.D. studies or…

The unique tension caused by the interdependent relationship between access, affordability, and sustainability adds an additional level of complexity for administrators in balancing societal educational needs, economic realities, and institutional success. Trends suggest postsecondary six-year degree completion remains stagnant despite most full…

As a number of states have created Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)-focused options for students, and more states will make them available in the future, several important policy considerations merit analysis. These include the ways states have designed their STEM graduation options, with a focus on comparing the…

The volume of articles, books, and studies about increasing the retention, persistence, and graduation of undergraduate college students is nothing short of prolific (Seidman, 2005). However, only modest gains in undergraduate graduation rates have been made nationally (Chen, 2012; Seidman, 2005). Six-year graduation rates at all four-year…

Miami-Dade County Public Schools had 23,062 graduates in the 2018-2019 academic year. Most students, 90%, achieved a standard diploma (24 credits). Some students chose an alternative curriculum where 506 (2%) achieved an Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) diploma and 368 (2%) achieved an International Baccalaureate (IB). An…

The Campaign for Emergency Student Aid (CESA) is a unique United Negro College Fund (UNCF) scholarship program that provides "just-in-time" financial aid to historically black college and university (HBCU) students poised to graduate, but short of funding. In 2018, the Kresge Foundation provided UNCF with funding to better understand how…