Community college students face difficulties in mathematics courses and may not understand the relevance of the topics they are learning to their intended career. When such connections are not made, mathematics courses can become barriers to pursuit of careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). In the present study, we…

There is rapidly growing research on the multiple benefits of nature-based experiences. Some institutions of higher education have incorporated these types of experiences in areas such as building design, travel offerings, residential programs, green spaces, field trips, wellness centers, and freshman orientation programs. Unfortunately, urban…

The value of a college degree has grown significantly for both society and individuals over the last decades. Research shows a large earning gap between individuals with a high school diploma or GED and higher education levels. Many individuals start their postsecondary journey with a public institution. Community colleges must design academic…

Early college high school (ECHS) and dual enrollment programs offer opportunities for students to work toward their 2-year degree while still in high school. The problem for this study was that the ECHS and dual enrollment programs had not been compared to see if they facilitated 2-year college degree completion compared to one another and to a…

Funding for public higher education has been cut in Kentucky in the decade starting 2008 (Spalding, 2019). Due to several contributing factors, including entitlement programs, healthcare costs, the great recession, and other competing demands at the state level, this is a nationwide trend and is not predicted to reverse any time soon. This funding…

The purpose of this quantitative research study is to determine through the foundational lens of the temporal motivational theory, if active procrastinators outnumber passive procrastinators, and outperform them on an online mathematics final exam. Conducted at an associate's degree granting institution in the southeastern region of the United…

This qualitative case study explored how a theory could explain how outside contributors could influence a student's decision to return for the second and final year of their academic career program. Using Holland's person-environment fit theory as the theoretical lens, this study contemplates how specific contributors, such as family and friends,…

While the direct impacts of minimum wage changes on employment have received considerable attention, these policy changes have the potential to impact skill attainment by changing the opportunity cost of college enrollment. Using institutional data on college enrollment and program completion, we find that enrollment falls markedly among students…

While diversity within the technology industry has been critical for developing robust and creative technology solutions, recruiting and retaining diverse tech talent in today's society has been a challenge worldwide, especially for Black learners and workers. Subsequently, the technology field is left lacking in diversity of thought and…

Given growing awareness of the high prevalence of food insecurity among college students, higher education leaders are implementing various food interventions on their campuses. However, there is little research on the efficacy and impact of these initiatives. Using data from a field randomized control trial, we find that a relatively modest…

Objective: Black librarians account for just 5.4% of academic librarians in the U.S. in a period in which enrollments for Black students steadily increases. While national programs aimed at recruitment exist, too little attention is focused on the environments and cultures that influence the attrition of racially minoritized groups. This study…

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to identify sources of stress and examine stress levels by gender among students of Southeast Asian descent. Participants: Six hundred and five Cambodian, Hmong, Laotian, Vietnamese, and Other Southeast students from 12 community colleges across the United States. Methods: Students completed the…

Introduction: While a considerable amount of extant scholarship describes the importance of and strategies for improving the postsecondary pathways of Black engineering students, most literature is contextualized within 4-year institutions. Objectives: The purpose of this article is to illuminate Black engineering students' experiences at…

For students that enroll in community colleges with the aspiration to transfer to a 4-year institution and earn a bachelor's degree, navigating the complexities of the transfer process can stymie their ability to achieve their educational goals. One solution implemented by community colleges and universities to support transfer students through…

Institute for Women's Policy Research (IWPR) conducted original research on an often-overlooked group of students--parents with children--as they struggle to make ends meet while pursuing academic degrees and certificates. Student parents often face enormous financial barriers to academic success. They report high financial insecurity including…