There is a steady decline in Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) graduation rates, especially from two-year institutions. These institutions have been an integral part of U.S. higher education system, and access for underrepresented groups has been a top priority in recent decades with the passing of specific legislation. Despite growing efforts to…

The purpose of this study was to identify ways that Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the state of Mississippi could provide better financial support to African-American college students that were raised in rural areas. This research also explained why the retention rate of African-American college students declined, while…

Research has shown that schools across the Nation are continuing to face the challenge of a special education teacher shortage. The purpose of this qualitative case study is to explore how the systemic factors of Bronfenbrenner's (1979) Ecological Systems Theory explain selected special educator's decisions to stay in the profession in a…

In this manuscript, we offer a brief understanding of the educational experiences of gang-impacted students in K-12 and postsecondary education. Using evidence-based and interconnected support systems that account for the multifaceted needs of gang-impacted students, such as basic needs, mental health, workforce development, technology, and other…

The Joint Educational Project's (JEP) STEM Education Programs at the University of Southern California (USC) present an elementary-level curriculum centered on the science of stem cells in partnership with Dr. Adam MacLean, an Assistant Professor of Quantitative and Computational Biology at USC for the broader impacts of a National Science…

The problem addressed in this study was the inability of school counselors to assist students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to discover the lived experiences of professional school counselors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using Bandura's Social Learning Theory, I looked at eight professional school…

The period of a child's growth and development that is most notable is from 0 to 8 years old. These are the years when all that is learned is laid down. Putting strong foundations in place today will yield big dividends later. Greater learning in the classroom and better educational results have a positive social and economic impact on society.…

ADHD symptoms in emerging adult college students are associated with multiple impairments. Social support may buffer the relation between ADHD and impairment. Social support can be defined in terms of quantity or quality; more research is needed to better understand this distinction. Thus, the current study examined the moderating effect of social…

Background/Context: Many college students experience basic needs insecurity, which includes a lack of -- or fear of the lack of -- access to healthy food, stable housing, reliable transportation, affordable child care, physical and mental health care services, the internet and technology, and other necessities students need to survive and thrive…

This dissertation explores the intrinsic and extrinsic factors influencing the socio-academic success of graduate students enrolled in exclusively online degree programs. The research aims to understand how a sense of belonging, fostered through interactions with peers, faculty, and the university community, contributes to socio-academic success.…

The purpose of this qualitative, descriptive, multi-site case study was to determine the criteria individualized education program (IEP) teams used to find the least restrictive environment (LRE) placement for a student with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at the elementary school level. The theoretical framework of this study was Maslow's theory…

The research on the religious experience of international students is limited. This study explored international undergraduate female students' narratives on the importance of religion and spirituality in their international sojourn. Using a narrative case study, I interviewed six students (three Christian and three Hindu students) to discuss the…

The teaching profession has always been a difficult one. This reality has only continued since the COVID-19 school closures as many teachers were attempting to return to "normal." For novice teachers (within their first five years), they did now know what normal was and therefore could not return to it. This group of teachers continue to…

The population of English Language Learners (ELLs) enrolled in kindergarten to second grade (K-2) in the Southern region of the United States has increased. K-2 teachers are challenged to serve ELLs in the regular education classroom and students are often being referred for special education services. There needs to be more literature on the…

Educators' high levels of stress have been well documented in existing literature, though little research has directly looked at comparisons of stress experiences and needs for support based on school level. The present study included 33 teachers (19 elementary and 14 middle school) from one school district who participated in semistructured…