Student persistence and retention are critical concerns for colleges. Although much research has been focused on first-generation college students and how their pre-college circumstances contribute to their failure to persist to a degree, little research has been done to focus specifically on first-generation students and how failure in gateway…

The fastest-growing population of Latinx students across California Community Colleges calls for an analysis on institutional practices to ignite change and improve the overall educational achievements of this student population. The purpose of this study was to examine the lived experiences of first-generation Latinx students by employing the…

This case study illustrates the use of photo-cued interviewing to improve postsecondary education for students from rural Indigenous communities in Peru. We explored (a) how access to postsecondary education influenced the identity development of rural first-generation Indigenous students in Peru, and (b) how postsecondary education can be…

This study examines the early departure pathways of first-time freshmen university students to better understand the intersection of financial and time-related constraints that affect first-generation and low-income Black and Latinx students. Data from 50 interviews with students who experienced an early departure from a four-year university…

For more than a century, scholars and policymakers have commented and debated on the purposes of higher education. These conversations reflect a combination of public and private goals, with an increasing emphasis on social mobility. The perspective of students, especially those currently enrolled and first-generation college goers for whom social…

This action research study aimed to understand and overcome barriers of awareness and access to out-of-the-classroom experiences for Bangladeshi and Pakistani female immigrant and first-generation (BPFIF) students at North Richmond College, a large urban public college located in the Northeastern United States. The study unfolded in two cycles…

First-generation college students (FGCS) in engineering bring a wealth of knowledge to their academic and social experiences in higher education, in contrast to deficit-based narratives that students are underprepared. By listening to FGCS' own experiences navigating higher education and using information literacy in their project-based work,…

The rising costs of college attendance and changes in financial aid packages leave students with little option other than to incur a debt of some amount. Unfortunately, colleges often fail to provide adequate financial literacy and student loan information so prospective students planning to attend college can make informed decisions. Student…

This research study examined the developmental and prescriptive academic advising preferences of two Texas community first-time-in-college (FTIC) students. For more than 100 years, higher education institutions have employed academic advisors to undertake meaningful interactions with students to assist with their academic progress. Their…

In 2020, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) plagued the United States, becoming one of the greatest disruptions to the U.S. higher education system in history. Affecting every aspect of institution's operations, prospective fall 2020 and beyond students were impacted greatly by the interruption of traditional college recruitment practices which…

Understanding first-generation African American students' experiences in their journeys to graduating from a 2-year community college is key for educators, staff, and college administrators to best serve the students in this demographic. The problem addressed by this descriptive qualitative study was that first-generation African American students…

Black, First-Generation, and Pell Grant recipient college students have faced tremendous obstacles and overcame substantial hurdles as a worldwide health pandemic, the novel coronavirus or COVID-19, disproportionately harmed the students, their family members, and communities. With over 1,000,000 deaths in the United States at the time of…

Hispanic males, including Mexican-Americans, are enrolling in community colleges at a high rate, especially in Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) that are in urban low-income areas. Unfortunately, these students are not graduating at the rate at which their population is growing in colleges. They are often stereotyped as unwilling to learn, but…

Indigenous academics are a minority within the academy, with the disparity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous academics, staffing and student numbers well established. A growing body of literature examines the motivations of Indigenous peoples who enrol in and complete university degrees; however, there is a dearth of literature examining the…

The purpose of this study was to explore factors affecting attrition of undergraduates with a strong STEM content background into the field of Education, particularly within high-need school districts. This research was conducted as part of the NSF-sponsored Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship project collaboration between a four-year private…