This study will examine the first-to-second-year college persistence of students who graduated from Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD) in the class of 2018. The study seeks to understand how the attainment of college readiness indicators correlates with college persistence in two categories of students, resourced and under-resourced.…

Two samples of female student-athletes were surveyed to explore dimensions of athletic and academic identities in Division I female student-athletes. Quantitative methods used a refined version of the 2010 NCAA Growth, Opportunities, Aspirations, Learning of Students in college (GOALS) survey to explore constructs underlying female…

Although each person faces their own share of challenges, it is their individual perception and responses to these difficulties that determine how they are affected by them. In this paper we investigate the association between gratitude and human prosperity including the underlying mechanism that helps people thrive during trying circumstances. We…

As the population of adult learners increases in higher education institutions across the globe, recent studies demonstrate that they face barriers that delay their advanced degree completion. Although K University (pseudonym) had discussed this delay among its adult student population, no studies or interventions had been proposed to address the…

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore teacher recruitment and retention practices for Black educators in rural counties in Southeastern North Carolina. The theories that guided this study are John Ogbu's cultural-ecological theory of minority school performance, and Richard Valencia's deficit thinking theory. The research…

The United States has long been a pioneer in higher education, yet the last few decades have proven challenging in maintaining its lead in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields (STEM). Students entering postsecondary education and participating in a STEM degree face increased academic rigor and this study's goal is to better…

Most organizations were created because there was a need for a service, product, or mission that would assist others in need. When considering what compels volunteers and workers to be consistent in organizations, motivation is imperative. The behavior of leadership, especially the ability to influence, has affected the volunteers and workers of…

Adult students represent one of the fastest growing student populations within higher education. While their educational goals are similar to traditional students, the challenges and barriers they may encounter differ. Higher education institutions must assess their support services, coursework, and resources to determine if they meet the needs of…

The purpose of this study is to address teacher retention within a small independent school. Nationally teacher turnover is at a critical level, and few schools are exempt from this crisis. As in many small independent schools, resources are limited. Any changes need to be impactful and sustainable, and exploration of the reasons behind the…

There has been a shortage of teachers in the field of special education for over 4 decades. Recently, this shortage is reaching a critical stage causing schools and districts to be unable to meet the federal and state mandates to provide a Free and Appropriate Education to all students ages 3-21 in the Least Restrictive Environment. This shortage…

Data from a moderately-selective state university in the Midwest is used to cross-examine the most appropriate data analytical techniques for predicting versus explaining college student persistence decisions. The current research provides an overview of the relative benefits of models specializing in prediction versus explanation with particular…

The unprecedented challenges of teaching during COVID-19 prompted fears of a mass exodus from the profession. We examine the extent to which these fears were realized using administrative records of Massachusetts teachers between 2015-2016 and 2021-2022. Relative to prepandemic levels, average turnover rates were similar going into the fall of…

An emerging approach to diversity and inclusion initiatives within the sciences is to consider the assets and resources (in the form of capitals) held by individuals from underrepresented groups. In Chapter 1 of this dissertation, we performed a systematic literature review to explore the secondary types of capital that exist within the STEM…

The purpose of this quantitative investigative examination was to look at how the four-day school week impacts teacher retention, specifically in Idaho rural school districts. The research question studied was what is the relationship between the four-day school week and teacher retention in rural school districts? Within the quantitative research…

A 2021 survey of teachers showed that almost 1 in 4 teachers planned to leave their jobs at the end of the school year. Teacher retention is a growing problem in the United States. Research shows multiple factors influence teacher retention. Research shows that school leadership can control many of the factors that increase the likelihood of…