A minimal amount is known regarding the mechanisms underlying the potential benefits of extracurricular activities (ECAs) for adolescents' psychological adjustment. This preliminary cross-sectional study, during which 512 undergraduates retrospectively reported information about high school ECAs, used structural equation modeling to show that…

As a result of budget cuts, accessibility to school extracurricular activities has been hindered. Students in one high school were classified as participants in extracurricular activities or nonparticipants. The groups were surveyed about perceptions of school; student grade point averages were obtained. Four independent samples t-tests were…

This study, conducted by a small group in a master's level class taught by Dr. Christine Wilson, assessed extracurricular experiences at a large, public university to identify potential alignment with characteristics of "high-impact practices" as defined by the Center for Postsecondary Education (2015). Students engaged in…

Many have written about the importance of employability skills and on creating collegiate initiatives to help develop those skills, especially in campus activities. Employers often claim soft skills are equally important in hiring decisions as a candidate's field knowledge (Hart Research Associates, 2013; Clark, Marsden, Whyatt, Thompson, &…

Colleges and universities are seeing increasing numbers of students with a range of disabilities enrolling in postsecondary education. Many of these disabilities are invisible and, despite their potential for negative impact on students' academic and social adjustment, some students will choose not to identify as having a disability or request…

This study examined the impact of an out-of-school science, technology, engineering, and mathematics-medicine (STEM-M) program in a large U.S. metropolitan area designed to support the learning, development, and educational resilience of high-achieving high school students of color. Students highlighted that a key aspect of the program was the…

Soft skills are important in several life domains, but their role in academic achievement has not been systematically investigated. This study examines how soft skills work together with self-regulated learning, motivation, and cognitive aspects in sustaining success at school. How extracurricular activities relates to these variables is examined…

This poll was conducted between September 16-17, 2022 among a sample of 2,200 adults. The interviews were conducted online and the data were weighted to approximate a target sample of adults based on gender, educational attainment, age, race, and region. Among the key findings are: (1) About a third of parents believe their child's school is…

The present study explores the antecedents of first- and second-generation (1G and 2G) immigrant students' academic performance using PISA 2018 data. The study draws on an international sample of 11,582 students from 534 schools in 20 countries and focuses on PISA schools that catered to a mix of 1G and 2G students. The study explores the role…

The Center for Collegiate Mental Health (CCMH) 2022 Annual Report summarizes data contributed to CCMH during the 2021-2022 academic year, beginning July 1, 2021 and closing on June 30, 2022. De-identified data were contributed by 180 college and university counseling centers, describing 190,907 unique college students seeking mental health…

This study described the lived experiences of fifteen African American male college students and their perception of their high school academics. The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the lived experiences of African American male college students on the factors promoting and inhibiting their academic achievement. In addition, this…

This study investigated perspectives on extracurriculars by immigrant, non-immigrant Latinx, and non-immigrant Black parents of high school students, as well as potential barriers, if any, to their children's ability to participate in extracurriculars. Drawing upon previous research that demonstrates the positive impact of extracurricular…

This study illuminates how common holistic admissions practices at so-called "elite" colleges and universities favor high-SES, high wealth applicants through the ways they define and consider "exceptional" performance in extracurricular activities. While many studies have established advantages to high-income applicants based…

We analyzed student engagement in physics during a summer course for incoming first-year students, part of a cohort-based learning community designed for students from underrepresented groups in the School of Engineering of a predominantly white institution. The data--video of an episode within the course and interviews of the 11 students one year…

Education in the early years is an excellent space for promoting integrated learning. The STEAM education model combines Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics holistically and has gained force globally, mostly in developed countries. However, in developing countries of Latin America, STEAM education programs are incipient and…