In this article, I am joined by two academic colleagues to explore my personal narratives and experiences as a doctoral student, and to explicate the challenges and achievements of my pathway into doctoral studies. Positioning itself within the growing field of doctoral research, the article focuses on an exploration of three vignettes which…

Since the 1990s, colleges and universities throughout the United States have witnessed a substantial increase in student population demographics. In particular, upticks have been reported in the number of first-generation students enrolling in colleges and universities. There is evidence that first-generation college students often face…

STEM fields, and engineering disciplines in particular, historically have reflected a traditionalist approach to education. For pre-professional students, this context may be highly competitive, and may include an expectation that undergraduates will sink or swim while making their way through a course progression designed to "weed out"…

Education has a crucial role in improving opportunities for lifelong learning and helping students to move towards their self-actualizing goals. Applying metacognitive interventions facilitate conceptualization and operationalization of such holistic approach of education. This study investigated the impacts of twelve hours metacognitive…

This article focuses on 'transition' and how it is understood within higher education. Drawing on data from concept map-mediated interviews at two institutions, we examine the conceptions of transition held by academic and professional staff, who work to support students' learning into and through higher education. We suggest that normative…

Transition research tends to consider the experiences of typically developing pupils and often focuses on the primary to secondary school transition. Accounts that specifically focus on the views of autistic pupils also tend to rely heavily on the accounts of parents and staff. This study explored the transition experiences of four young autistic…

Cultural immersion exercises, used often in counselor education, can effectively challenge student biases and encourage interaction with persons outside of the student's own community or comfort zone. Through such exercises students belonging to minoritized groups may choose to address biases they hold for members of dominant groups who have…

Drawing on our own experience, we reflect on the documented challenges of undergraduate supervision faced by qualitative researchers, and extend this discussion by further considering the issues raised by supervising projects that engage with critical perspectives. Concerns are identified regarding the dominance of traditional psychological…

The primary aims of this study were twofold: (a) to describe average change in the written narrative performance of second grade students from the fall and spring of the school year and (b) examine patterns of individual growth to test for Matthew effects. Participants included 299 children in second grade. Microstructural measures were derived…

Research suggests that identity development is a crucial dimension of the doctoral student experience. This study explores what identity formations doctoral students exhibit in the doctoral journey and how these formations affect their experiences in the process of achieving a doctorate. The methodology employed was within the qualitative paradigm…

Colleges are increasingly recognizing the need for specialized supports to address the complex needs of students with a history of foster care. This study provides strengths and lessons learned in program development from a national sample of campus-based support program staff and administrators. Findings indicate the importance of enhancing…

To effectively lead with our religiously diverse national and global communities, colleges and universities must engage practices and conditions that promote student interfaith learning and development. Recent research highlights seemingly divergent factors that both play significant roles to help prepare students for productive engagement across…

Although most higher education programs include a capstone course to culminate the student experience, program directors disagree on what the experience should look like. Updating previous research, this study examined the main goals, teaching methods, and subject areas covered in journalism and mass communication capstone courses. It also…

This mixed-methods study investigated ESOL teachers' experiences in their role as advocate. Surveys were completed by 144 ESOL teachers located in the southeastern United States. Ten participants were selected from the pool of 144 to participate in semistructured interviews to explore their experiences in the advocate role. Results from this study…

Academic self-efficacy is critical to academic success. Hence those working in higher education need to make deliberate and substantial attempts to foster academic competence, confidence, persistence and resilience in the students they teach, given they are essential components of academic self-efficacy. Addressing an identified gap in the…