This study examines the impact of high school academic indicators and participation in the federally funded Upward Bound program on college graduation rates for first-generation, low-income students. Specifically the extent to which participation in the federally funded TRIO Upward Bound program and related factors--high school GPA, course rigor,…

Objective: This study examined socio-demographic characteristics and COVID-19 experiences as concurrent predictors of perceived familial and friend social support, social media use, and socio-emotional motives for electronic communication during the COVID-19 pandemic among college students. Participants: Participants were 619 emerging adults…

Minority-serving institutions (MSIs) are colleges and universities that enroll a high percentage of racially and ethnically diverse students, or minority students, as defined by the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA; P.L. 110-315). MSIs offer unique educational opportunities for students attending these federally recognized institutions that…

This paper looks at the phenomenon of upward mobility through education from a comparative and historical perspective. Pierre Bourdieu referred to upwardly mobile individuals in France as the miraculous ("les miraculés"), oblates ("oblats"), or, less often, defectors ("transfuges"). A difficulty with applying a theory…

This study examines the experiences of nine first-generation, single-mother college students, focusing on these intersecting, double-jeopardy identities. Participants' difficulty navigating college varied; contributing factors included family background, social capital, the type of college attended, and whether they established a mentor. The…

Student service members/veterans (SSM/Vs)--defined as undergraduates in the U.S. military or who have military experience--have been an emergent group of adult learners in American 4-year universities. Because SSM/Vs diversify universities and are supported by significant public investments, their success is critical. Little quantitative research,…

Education serves as a powerful tool for advancing individuals and society, but learners enter formal education with vastly different opportunities, backgrounds, and challenges. Addressing these disparities requires a commitment to equitable access, personalized support, and inclusive learning environments that recognize diverse needs. By fostering…

Objective: Hispanic/Latine college students are increasingly at high risk to experience self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs). This brief report examined SITB prevalence rates among a national sample of Hispanic/Latine college students, with specificity to sub-group characteristics. Participants: Hispanic college students across 139…

There has been growth in Early College High Schools, and other similar programs, to improve racial/ethnic minority and first-generation students' access to higher education. As a result, there has been an increase in nontraditionally aged students (e.g., students under 18) in higher education. Despite increases in students under 18 attending…

This research is based on a collaborative project with the "University Scholars Program" (USP), a college access program that serves middle and high school students who will be the first in their families to attend college. In this paper, we draw upon in-depth and focus group interviews with Latina/o parents whose children are enrolled…

Many Latinas encounter negative expectations regarding their chances of attending college in the United States. Dominant narratives legitimize these structural and relational negations by depicting Latinas as a group that voluntarily lowers their expectations of themselves as they move through the education pipeline. To increase the representation…

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess how perceptions of family support (instrumental and relational-emotional) are related to psychological distress among commuter students and whether household income, gender, year in college and first-generation status moderate this association. Participants: Undergraduate students at a suburban…

All students should have the ability to thrive within collegiate environments. Despite widening access for postsecondary education participation, low-income students often do not experience the collegiate environment in the same ways as their well-resourced peers. Previous research highlights obstacles low-income students face; yet, these results…

In this qualitative study, through a "testimonio" methodology, we examined the working-learner re-entry experiences of eight Latinx students enrolled at a community college. In particular, we studied how their multiple identities influenced their educational journey as they attempted to complete their college degrees. Our findings show…

Learning environments that support a sense of belonging have been shown to help students fully and meaningfully participate in their learning. Less is known, however, about the social organization of online learning environments that support a sense of belonging, particularly in postsecondary contexts. With an explicit attention to issues of…