When they enter institutions of higher education, students typically leave behind one culture to join another. Despite the higher rates of attrition for first-generation students over continuing-generation students and undecided students over declared students, little research has been focused on undeclared first-generation students. To understand…

Non-traditional college students benefit from unconventional teaching methods. Hispanic students now attend colleges and universities in growing numbers, and still this demographic is the least likely to earn a postsecondary credential. Due to the projected growth of the nation's Hispanic population, efforts to support the success of…

In 2005, the percentage of Canton City (Ohio) young adults with some college or an associate degree was 33%. In addition, only 12.5% of its adults had earned a bachelor's degree or higher, and 81% of its students were in poverty. To increase the college population among Canton's poorest neighborhoods, the Canton City School District, Stark State…

Latinos are the largest minority in the U.S., yet they hold the least number of conferred college degrees compared to their total population. Despite these low numbers, Latinos have grown exponentially in colleges and universities. Presently, the University of California has six out of its nine undergraduate campuses designated Hispanic Serving…

This dissertation uses a case study to explore issues of college access for low-income, first-generation urban African American students. This project also examines the work of Mr. Silas Purnell, the man I have deemed as 'The Michael Jordan of TRiO'. He was a pioneer, leader, and in essence--a game changer in the field of Student Affairs and among…

The purpose of this study was to determine predictors of community college student academic success in corequisite English and mathematics courses. Academic success was defined dichotomously on a pass or fail basis. The population included 1,934 students enrolled in at least one corequisite English and/or mathematics course at a community college…

Latinx Californians represent the largest ethnic group in the state, with a demographic that is disproportionately young. The state must significantly increase the educational opportunity and success of Latinx Californians, ensuring that more of them are prepared for college, attend college, and graduate with the skills necessary to thrive…

This dissertation studies college admissions in Brazil in the past two decades, a period characterized by a decline in the socioeconomic inequality in demand for higher education. The first chapter studies an affirmative action policy enacted at a flagship university in Brazil to lower the socioeconomic inequality in college access. I find…

To demonstrate effectiveness, writing centers collect quantitative and/or qualitative information about and from the students who use their services. A broader understanding of effectiveness requires us to consider both direct measures of writing quality and why some students do not use the writing center. This mixed-methods research followed one…

In this study, we explored the potential of extracurricular activity involvement (ECAI) among underrepresented college students to counter and protect against the noxious effects of perceived discrimination on academic performance. Students (N = 340; 68.5% female), were eligible to participate if they identified as a member of a historically…

Nonprofit community-based organizations (CBOs) increasingly provide services that are traditionally thought to be a governmental responsibility. Through a qualitative case study, we examine the role, politics, and sustainability of a nonprofit CBO aimed at expanding opportunities for underserved youth. Our findings explain how this CBO worked to…

Despite being among the most disadvantaged groups with respect to college access and success in the United States, youth formerly in foster care (YFFC) remain an understudied population in higher education research. Although they aspire to college at high levels, youth in foster care enjoy less postsecondary access and success than their peers who…

There is a gap in research on access to universities in South Africa. The research that exists focuses on quantitative methodologies, although some qualitative studies are now emerging. These research methodologies, although necessary and substantial for the development of equity measures and policies, might be less successful in their impact on…

Objective: Although much research on community colleges focuses on institutional challenges or student deficits, emerging evidence suggests that student-instructor relationships have the potential to impact student success. The current study examined factors that could influence community college students' development of relationships with…

This paper provides the first quantitative analysis on 'first in family' (FiF) university graduates in the UK. Using a nationally representative dataset that covers a recent cohort in England, we identify the proportion of FiF young people at age 25 as 18%, comprising nearly two-thirds of university graduates. Comparing groups with no parental…