Increasing access and inclusion for underrepresented minorities in economics has been a focus for many in the discipline. Despite this, researchers have largely left two avenues of investigation that may provide insight into this issue unexplored: the role of community colleges and the role of reclassification of economics programs. I address the…

Nationwide, many students who enroll in community college programs fail to persist in postsecondary education or complete a credential. The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) Two-Year Occupational Grant Pilot Program (the Occupational Grant) was a financial aid program designed to increase persistence and completion rates through…

This study uplifted the stories of formerly incarcerated and/or system-impacted students attending a California community college (i.e., "Rising Scholars") to provide qualitative context to a growing literature following the state's promotion of support programs at the University of California (UC), California State University (CSU), and…

Research on the use of gardens as an integral part of school curriculum has the potential to address many concerns in the American classroom, such as students' lack of interest in school, teachers feeling disempowerment and lack of administrative support, and school and community disconnection. Many school districts have gained recognition for…

In this exploratory mixed-methods case study, I examined 24 participating principals' perceptions of using implementation science to deploy Inclusive Learning Communities (ILC) in 33 Wisconsin schools participating in a Research-to-Practice Inclusive Communities (RPIC) project. I found evidence that ILC were supported by a majority of…

The diversity of higher education institutions is changing, and more post-traditional students, including those associated with the military, are engaging in higher education. Almost every post-secondary institution in the United States has military students. In 2020, $11.5 billion was spent on over 875,000 eligible military students. Military…

In recent decades the United States has experienced considerable growth in the Latina/o/x population. In 2014, Latina/o/xs made up approximately 17 percent of the U.S. population (U.S Census Bureau, 2015). The U.S Census Bureau projects that by 2060 the Latina/o/x population will be 29 percent of the U.S. population (U.S Census Bureau, 2015).…

African American women are not retained or advanced in the community college system, resulting in an underrepresentation of African American women in administrative decision-making roles. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to examine the experiences of African American female leaders in the community college setting and to explore the…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore advisor accessibility and its connection to academic achievement using technology as a means of communication with African American males at a four-year urban university. Qualitative data was collected through the interviews of five advisor participants and ten student participants. The study…

Recent literature and think tank organizations alike point to the notion that the master's degree is the new bachelor's degree. Additionally, universities are experiencing an increase in first-generation college student enrollment as well as graduate student enrollment. This growth in both student populations raises the question: What happens when…

This research project explored how leaders and mentors can influence the development of a sense of belonging in first-generation students in the United States. My first-generation experience led me to explore the influence belonging has on the retention and completion of first-generation students. I also considered if education leaders and mentors…

Many people seek higher status through socioeconomic mobility. Higher education institutions and professional workplaces include barriers to entry and inclusion that make it difficult for people from lower socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds to reach their goals. Experiences within these settings can lead people to feel "status…

The absence of federal support leaves undocumented students reliant on state policies to financially support their postsecondary education. We descriptively examine the postsecondary trajectories of tens of thousands of undocumented students newly eligible for California's state aid program, using detailed application data to compare them to…

The absence of federal support leaves undocumented students reliant on state policies to financially support their postsecondary education. We descriptively examine the postsecondary trajectories of tens of thousands of undocumented students newly eligible for California's state-aid program, using detailed application data to compare them to…

The use of evidence-based practice (EBP) is considered key to supporting favorable academic, social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes in education and related fields. Although specific research-based practices are progressively more frequently practiced by teachers and other school-based professionals, scholars and practitioners--particularly…