The number of autistic students pursuing postsecondary education continues to increase, but they do not persist, graduate, or maintain post-graduate employment at the same rate as their allistic (non-autistic) peers. Using a critical theoretical lens and exploring persistence from Schlossberg's transition theory (1981,) this narrative inquiry…

During the shift to online learning in 2020, the disruption to students and families was nearly universal, but the causes--and effects--varied. In this time, a shocking number of students did not attend school regularly, or at all. The work of the intervening years has been largely twofold: ensure that students reengage with learning and help them…

The Province of Ontario welcomes the largest population of high school Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education (SILFE students) in Canada to its secondary schools. Many of these students arrive late in age with significant academic gaps and face many barriers to reaching their post-secondary goals in Canada. Literature has identified…

This case study was built following an examination of a series of disparities regarding LGBTQ+ High School aged students. Data has been collected that highlights the differences in Mental Health, well-being, School Performance and School Belonging which all factor into an overtly negative experience for this population. In order to better…

The underperformance of African American males compared to their white counterparts in educational settings has been a long-standing research subject. Researchers have employed several lenses with which to view this phenomenon. Ogbu (2004) claimed that African American students are more likely to possess anti-school attitudes, which ultimately…

While there has been significant research on both how academic struggles impact college students, as well as factors that impact the sense of belonging for college students, there has been little research examining how a significant academic struggle impacts a students' perception of sense of belonging at that institution. This qualitative study…

Considering the increasing rates of bullying in adolescence, more empirical evidence on how multiple factors work together in relation to the bully-victim role is needed. This study aims to explore individual and perceived school-level factors associated with the bully-victim role in the context of traditional bullying and cyberbullying, based on…

Objective: To better understand the current perspectives of Black college and university students in the U.S., it is important to consider the system of injustice they navigate throughout their lifespan characterized by oppression and discrimination. This dissertation examined the impact of racism and discrimination on coping ability, sense of…

Although African Americans and other minoritized groups have gradually increased in the number of students graduating with a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) degree over the years, these groups remain underrepresented in STEM. Among the many factors contributing to the lack of representation is "college…

Transfer stigma refers to a type of stigma associated with students' transfer status and/or their community college background. It plays a significant role in post-transfer adjustment and may negatively impact post-transfer outcomes such as retention and obtaining a baccalaureate degree. This study focused on quantitatively measuring transfer…

Effective collaboration between key stakeholders increases the educational opportunities and outcomes of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although the value of collaboration between the central members of a student's network has been widely cited, how collaboration occurs between different stakeholder groups in the education of…

The problem addressed in this study is the high dropout and poor graduation rates among at-risk students attending Title I high schools in Virginia. The purpose of this causal comparative study was to (a) assess current levels of school connectedness, achievement focus, student persistence, grades, and attendance of at-risk high school students in…

Objective: The present study examined the relationships among students' participation in Residential College (RC) activities, their sense of belonging, academic engagement, and academic achievement. Participants: Two hundred and forty-six undergraduate students from a public university in Macau participated in this study. Methods: A set of survey…

School can be challenging for autistic girls who are at risk of internalised anxiety which can ultimately lead to school avoidance. Low attendance is acknowledged as negatively impacting educational attainment and exacerbating mental health difficulties. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with three autistic girls aged 13-15 years from…

Student-athletes at Division 2 institutions may have pressure from athletics and academics that affect their overall wellness. The purpose of this study is to identify pressures Division 2 student-athletes face and the coping strategies present and desired to help mitigate pressures. The research questions are 1) What pressures do student-athletes…