Student performance in an introductory agricultural finance class was analyzed via a pre-test, post-test, and additional student information collected from 2018-2021. Regression analysis indicated that several common measures of academic performance and aptitude were linked to post-test scores. As is consistent with the literature, post-test score…

The transition to higher education is a challenging period for many students and requires support. Because students' backgrounds, such as being a first-generation in higher education student, shape experiences in higher education, it is important to consider these factors when organizing support. Using a quasi-experimental pre-test - post-test…

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020 led to a widespread transition from traditional face-to-face instruction to remote learning during the 2020-2021 academic year. The lack of in-person instruction posed unique challenges, particularly for students transitioning from high school to college, exacerbating existing educational…

This study explored the experiences of first-generation students at Bentley University, a private, business-focused institution. Through semi-structured interviews with eleven students, the research identifies common challenges and highlights the impact of university policies and programs on their success. The findings emphasize the need for…

Two generative approaches to reaction mechanism instruction for novice students were compared to lecture instruction. In both approaches, students were coached to propose selected reaction mechanisms based on prior knowledge. New instructional methods were correlated with increased skill in representations of electron movements and other gains.…

Much research on women of color in STEM has treated women of color as a collective, giving little attention to the nuanced differences in the experiences of the women within this larger group. Research on women of color in STEM has also given insufficient attention to disciplinary differences, and has often applied unidimensional, rather than…

The United States faces challenges in retaining students of color (SoC), women, and nonbinary individuals in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). This study explores the impact of a residential bridge program on STEM persistence for these groups. Participants, who were all women or nonbinary individuals and were 56% SoC and 30%…

Despite increased college enrollment rates among FGAMFCS, these students face substantial challenges that contribute to lower rates of graduation compared to their peers from other ethnic backgrounds. Based on Tinto's Student Integration Model, this study examines the persistence of FGAMFCS at Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs) in the United…

The evolution of the role of higher education institutions (HEIs) from knowledge generation to societal transformation has heightened the focus on how internship programs serve diverse student populations (Altbach et al., 2019). In Sub-Saharan Africa, there has been a notable trend toward incorporating structured and mandated internship programs…

The purpose of this study is to investigate how a virtual mentored research program, the National Summer Undergraduate Research Project (NSURP), affects sense of belonging among underserved students in science fields. Examining the effects of virtual research programs can contribute to the body of research on ways to instill sense of belonging…

It is estimated that 15-22% of students have high levels of test anxiety (von der Embse, Jester, Roy, & Post, 2018), which can be associated with greater academic stress and poorer educational performance (e.g., Steinmayr, Crede, McElvany, & Withwein, 2016). First-generation students (where neither parent has completed post-secondary…

Background: Because of the social and systemic barriers encountered by first-generation college students, this population is at risk for poorer health outcomes. However, there is no identified research investigating whether this includes sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The aim of the study was to identify whether first-generation students…

There is an increasingly large disparity in college graduation rates among low-income and first-generation college students. Research suggests that the main reason for this discrepancy is the lack of access to information and knowledge about the college process. First-generation students have fewer people in their social network who went to…

Hispanic college students typically report a lower sense of belonging than their White peers, citing challenges related to first generation student status, low-income family backgrounds, and academic underpreparedness. The present study asked whether Hispanic students would have a lower sense of belonging than non-Hispanic White students and…

Objective/Research Question: This research explores how community college students, who are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields and aspire to vertical transfer in STEM make choices about majors and transfer destinations. The question is important to advancing equity in STEM, which continues to…