This study explored student perceptions regarding persistence in online coursework at the community college level. Using a case study design and thematic analysis, the researcher conducted focus group interviews and then identified themes related to the academic, economic, and social supports and barriers that impacted student persistence at one…

Teacher retention in the rural setting is a topic of concern. Teachers are choosing to leave the profession for a variety of reasons. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to identify factors teachers in a rural school district in Mississippi perceived as promoting teacher retention. Additionally, this study examined teachers' perceptions…

Research has shown that students who are satisfied with college and more engaged on campus are more likely to graduate (Astin, 1993; Kuh et al., 2008; Pascarella & Terenzini, 2005; Schreiner & Nelson, 2013). Thus, investing in programs or services to engage students and increase satisfaction has been a focus of some institutions (Kezar et…

The focus of this study was to implement a qualitative study exploring African American Students' experience of racial bias in higher education. The problem addressed by this study was that racial bias on college campuses has a negative impact on the African American students' academic performance as well as their pursuance of other educational…

This quantitative study was designed to understand the relationship between the variables of student attendance, educator experience and turnover, and student achievement at the Molly Hootch schools in rural Alaska in an effort to understand the current state of achievement according to data from 2002-2019 collected from the Alaska Department of…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study is to understand why alternatively certified teachers choose to enter and stay in the teaching profession in Florida. The study utilizes the Factors Influencing Teaching Choice (FIT-Choice) Model as the theoretical foundation for the following research questions, "Why do alternatively…

Grit in student learning has emerged as a popular discussion topic related to the academic achievement and performance of students. The non-cognitive features of grit are similar to personality traits such as conscientiousness, perseverance, and self-efficacy. However, grit relies on extended passion and perseverance to achieve long-term goals.…

Nationwide, 15.2% of teachers employed in schools with students with low socioeconomic status left their schools annually, compared with 10.5% of their counterparts at high socioeconomic status schools (Burbach & Flores, 2012; Harding & Quinn, 2012). Teacher quality was considered a prerequisite for student learning, but urban schools had…

Many believe that talent is inherent--a person either has it or doesn't. But research shows that a student's environment is a critical determinant for developing talents. In "Talent Zones," Dr. Lee Hancock redefines talent so that parents, teachers, and coaches of kids can create environments rich in opportunities for all kids to boost…

For-profit, online, higher education institutions have lower student retention rates than institutions in other categories. Higher education leaders are concerned with low retention as it adversely impacts financial and student outcomes. Grounded in Morgan and Hunt's relationship marketing theory, the purpose of this qualitative, exploratory,…

Current student success measures have been shown to be necessary, but insufficient, often masking the successes of specific student populations by virtue of their 4-year institutional centricity, aggregate calculation, and reflection of hegemonic definitions of student success. For far too long, academics and policymakers have valued what they…

This study sought to address the problem of the low persistence of African American women in engineering careers. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of African American women engineers on the impact of their educational experiences on their persistence in engineering career fields. Social Cognitive Career Theory was used as…

High-quality teachers have been shown to be a foundational component in the success of students in k-12 education. High-quality teacher recruitment, selection, and retention become a cornerstone of a high quality school. The problem, of identifying, hiring, and retaining high quality teachers, is addressed in this dissertation. The school had to…

New Jersey Air and Army National Guard (NJAANG) undergraduate students endure multiple transitions throughout their academic career. In 2020, for example, the COVID-19 pandemic caused numerous activations and manning demands for the NJAANG population, further stressing coping methods. Using the follow-up, explanatory sequential mixed methods…

The role of intrusive advising in the persistence of community college students has not been well-studied even though intrusive advising has been touted as a practice to improve retention in U.S. community colleges. Student retention is important for sustaining community colleges that serve as open admissions institutions because they are…