The first two decades of the twenty-first century witnessed the blossoming of frameworks to conceptualize "21st-century skills" both in school and career. However, there is still a lack of consensus about what we are talking about when using the term "21st-century skills," as the existing frameworks on "21st-century…

Recognizing the increasing role academic advising has come to play in student success strategies, this quantitative study sought to explore the relationships between advising, validation/belonging, and students' college grade point average (GPA). The researcher also examined how students' marginalized status played a role in these relationships. A…

Multipotential students have multiple abilities, strengths, and interests, many of which could be developed to a high level. They can succeed in a wide range of careers, have many interests that they may wish to combine or decide amongst when considering their plans, often leading to indecision. Deciding on an academic major or career is a complex…

This study explored the lived experiences of first-generation transfer students (FGTS) and their utilization of support structures at a mid-size, public university in New England. Using Schlossberg's Transition Theory as a framework, this case study presents results that sought to center the voices of FGTS as it relates to the support services…

This critical case study explores creating and implementing an undocumented resource center (USRC) in Utah. Using a qualitative research approach, the study draws on interviews with key stakeholders involved in the development and operation of USRCs and an analysis of policy documents and other relevant materials. The study finds that creating…

International student enrollment at American higher education institutions has grown mostly unabated since tracking began in 1948, but has not been met with a corresponding investment in programming to assist students during their transition or their enrollment stateside. In the interest of providing better support to international students, this…

Research on international students suggests they have a low sense of belonging at the U.S. institutions they attend. This study examined whether academic advisor's cultural empathy, advisor-advisee rapport, and international students' advising satisfaction influenced international students' perspectives of belonging to the institution. We further…

Objective: Transfer student capital (TSC) helps community college students realize the potential for the transfer pathway to serve as a lower-cost option to a bachelor's degree. However, students' accrual of TSC depends on the quality and quantity of information networks and infrastructure; information asymmetry in these networks can impede…

The advising experience of adult learner's academic and social engagement at community colleges. Based on the literature, it was not known how adult learners in an associate's program describe their advising experience with respect to social and academic engagement at community colleges in the southern United States. The purpose of this…

From 2016-2023, College Futures Foundation supported several California State University (CSU) campuses to partner with California community colleges in their regions to increase the number of students transferring from community colleges and completing bachelor's degrees at the CSU. In an effort to learn more about this work, College Futures…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the remote work experiences of Millennial-Aged People of Color (MAPOC) in academic advisor roles in Wisconsin during the COVID-19 pandemic, what influenced their experiences, and how they view the sustainability of remote work. Using two semi-structured interview protocols with seven participants and a…

Effective academic advising is well-recognized as a central component of student success within higher education. The exponential growth of online education, in combination with an increasingly diverse student population, prompts the need to reexamine best practices in advising. This exploratory, action research study examined the relationships…

This dissertation explored the experiences of cisgender, gay male academic advisors in higher education. Using participant-generated photo elicitation and narrative interviews with 10 participants, the study revealed gay academic advisors were forced to negotiate their sexual identity in higher education. Through their negotiation, academic…

This research study analyzed the curriculum of school counselor preparation programs and programs' emphasis on preparing counselors to support students in their college admissions and college choice processes. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, including surveys of counselor education department chairs and document analysis of the…

This paper reports the findings of a small-scale study that assessed the extent to which teacher educators' academic advice provision to prospective teachers has been practiced. A questionnaire survey for 311 prospective teachers and an interview with 10 teacher educators and an Ex-Vice Dean at a College of Teacher Education in Ethiopia was…