The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the implementation of a belongingness strategy positively influences student performance in an online higher education environment. Belonging is defined as a student's sense of being accepted, respected, encouraged and supported in their college environment by both peers and faculty. This study's…

This qualitative study explores the lived experiences of higher education administrators involved in addressing food insecurity on campuses in the U.S. through the COVID-19 pandemic. As more higher education institutions begin to develop food insecurity and basic needs initiatives to enhance student success and persistence, sharing the…

Objective: Examine changes in graduate student health and well-being in the first semester. Participants: Full-time, first-semester graduate students (N=74) from a midsized midwestern university. Method: Graduate students were surveyed prior to starting their master's program and 10 weeks later. Passion for academics, basic psychological needs,…

The authors examine the unique and important role of small institutions in the landscape of higher education in the United States. Through an examination of student success, community engagement, and sense of belonging, the authors aim to provide a better understanding of the evolving dynamics in small institutions and the need for bold…

Available research discusses the first-generation undergraduate experience, graduate students' sense of belonging, and first-generation graduate students, but little research shows the themes that impact a first-generation graduate student's sense of belonging. Understanding the first-generation graduate students' experience as a marginalized…

School leaders and policymakers seek various pathways to help minority, low-income, and other historically underrepresented populations matriculate to college after graduating high school. However, many students are not fully prepared academically or non-academically to transition to college, making it challenging to persist through completion and…

Formal and informal peer-to-peer support through advice plays an important role in enhancing students' experiences and ensuring their success in higher education. For international students who often face social and cultural challenges adapting to their new university environment, direct and authentic guidance from peers can be vital in helping…

Over the past 30 years, state funding for public higher education has decreased dramatically in the United States ("The Chronicle of Higher Education," 2014; National Education Association (NEA), 2022). As a result, many public universities have purposefully increased international student enrollment to help replace these vanishing state…

Live-in staff and students have never, even under the most stifling corporatized conditions, "stopped" developing their intimate and personal lives. The act of living, both with oneself and with others, is the primary condition for the exploration of how to live a personal life. However, this article reflects on the many ways that the…

When the verdict was announced in the case of "State of Minnesota v. Derek Michael Chauvin," the university at which the author is employed made an announcement, probably much like those emitted at other colleges and universities around the country. The campus was informed that the verdict was an indication not of the sound state of…

The treatment of college students who have experienced trauma in their lives is commonplace in University and College Counseling Centers. Despite this, there is almost no literature on navigating the challenges of treating trauma in this context. Accordingly, in this paper, we discuss the importance for college counselors to consider the…

The purpose of this mixed-method pragmatic study was twofold: to identify the necessary classroom and campus supports student veterans require to create a veteran-inclusive environment. Additionally, the study investigated whether those supports differ for male and female student veterans. The United States has been at war for twenty years in…

In this dissertation, I work to expand social understanding of sexual assault occurrence and reporting challenges on college and university campuses. In an ideal world, sexual assault would be extremely rare, and reporting of those assaults would result in supportive experiences for impacted persons, contributing to a culture of care. To move…

Student belonging is becoming an increasingly prominent concept in how universities pursue policies and practices to ensure student success. Through this increased prevalence, there has been a substantial increase in research output on this topic in recent years. This critical literature review aims to provide a comprehensive and accessible…

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association between proposed anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and depressive symptoms among LGBTQ+ college students. Participants: Participants (N = 72,135) included LGBTQ+ college students (N = 21,466) from over 530 colleges and universities, including technical and community institutions, across the United…