Using student self-reports on a survey and objective records of academic achievement, I examined the effects of course modality on student satisfaction and academic outcomes at a selective liberal arts college in spring 2021. I compared three groups of undergraduates (N = 729) based on their predominant course modality: Online-Class Group,…

The emergence of a global emergency, COVID-19, forced social work programs to shift to virtual teaching, disrupting students' learning abruptly. Social work students reported negative impacts from the pandemic on academic functioning as well as financial and emotional wellbeing. This study examines the relationships between demographic predictors…

The connection between students and faculty is a recognized component of student belonging and engagement. To better understand how these relationships are formed, we utilized a qualitative design to explore the ways in which faculty and staff at a mid-sized public university perceived their roles in supporting, and connecting with, students.…

Background: Despite increased access to higher education in recent decades, first-generation (first-gen) university students continue to face challenges with persistence and completion. Recommended responses by universities include exposing these students to "high-impact" educational practices. Purpose: This article examines the…

The university student population in Australia contains increasing numbers of older students returning to learning after a significant gap in their educational journey. Many are choosing to enrol online to combine their studies with other time-consuming responsibilities. This article examines the nature of this online student experience with a…

How do students engage with the multitude of services and resources offered by their institutions? Our findings, based on interviews with 62 college seniors, indicate that in the context of ample opportunities and limited guidance, students rarely make use of institutional resources.Instead, continuing-generation students turn to family resources,…

First-generation college students have received considerable attention in education research, yet there is still much that is unknown about their unique college experiences. This mixed-methods study provides a unique perspective on first-generation college students through the application of McClusky's theory of margin to first-generation students…

This study explored students' perceptions about school counselor influence on college aspirations in the fifth largest school district in the nation. Using 2015 survey data from 12th graders, the findings indicated that students who selected their school counselor as the most helpful person for college advice were more likely to intend to go to…

This qualitative research examined factors that influence baccalaureate degree completion among low-income, first- and second-generation Mexican and Dominican students. This research explored the challenges that students from these specific Latino sub-groups confront throughout their college careers. The literature review offered a historical…

This study examined the six-year bachelor's degree graduation status of freshmen (N = 1,839) entering the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences (AFLS) between 2001 and 2010. The overall graduation rate was 64%, including 23% who had transferred out of AFLS. Multinomial logistic regression was used to determine if student…

The American Talent Initiative's Student Success Research Grant Program supported research studies aimed at deepening our understanding of the institutional practices and strategies that can improve student success at high-graduation-rate institutions. The findings will offer actionable recommendations for supporting lower-income students, while…

Many Latino students believe college provides an opportunity for economic and social mobility to reach the American Dream. Latino students also demonstrate financial need and leverage various cost-saving measures to make college more affordable. Concurrently, select colleges and universities are working to improve their policies and practices to…

Preventing attrition for racially minoritized, first-generation, and low SES postsecondary students continues to be a challenge despite significant efforts of educational researchers, college administrators, and high school teachers and counselors. Cultural capital (skills necessary to successfully navigate an environment) may help to explain and…

Enrollment, retention and graduation rates of students have been a challenge that requires immediate attention from stakeholders of higher education institutions. Though many students enter into engineering fields, retaining these students has been challenging for institutions across the country. If student engagement in the classroom can be…

First-generation and economically marginalized (FGEM) college students are attending higher education institutions with increasing regularity. The unique experiences of these students call for career frameworks that capture their specific strengths and challenges. This article outlines a new model from which to conceptualize FGEM college students'…