This dissertation, titled "Families, Culture, Community: Expanding Understanding of What Catalyzes Student Success in a Pre-College Upward Bound Program," investigates the critical factors influencing student success in the Upward Bound program through a funds of knowledge framework (Moll et al., 1992; Rios-Aguilar & Kiyama, 2012).…

Using a phenomenological approach, we examined the sense of belonging for first-generation Latino men enrolled in a developmental mathematics course at a Hispanic-Serving Institution. The focus was on faculty-student interactions that fostered a sense of belonging. Data were collected through individual, semistructured interviews. Participants…

This mixed methods action research study was conducted at a women's, private, liberal arts university in the United States with the purpose to create an opportunity for the Latina female first-generations college students (LFFGCS) to; build a sense of belonging and community, and provide them with more resources on a variety of financial topics in…

International education has focused on the learning processes of minority, low-income college students and learners of color. This study analyzes the experiences of nine minority, first-generation U.S. undergraduates from a four-year college in the southeastern U.S. who pursued study abroad and Global Studies during 2015-2022. Global Studies is an…

First-generation college students' degree attainment is far below their continuing generation peers (Whitely et al., 2018). This study aims to offer institutions of higher education better insight into how to provide support to be more effective in retaining first-generation college students. This explanatory sequential mixed methods study…

The purpose of "The Pathways and Experiences of Illinois Computer Science Undergraduate Students Series," as the name suggests, is to understand the pathways and experiences of computer science (CS) and tech students in post-secondary programs throughout Illinois, paying particular attention to students from historically marginalized…

A college education can represent a path toward a stable career, social and health benefits, or upward mobility for students. However, a large proportion of students who enroll in college fail to complete a degree. Despite the potential benefits of a college education, students encounter a number of barriers to college success. In this…

Along the P-16 continuum, intersecting systems of oppression work to invisiblize, dismiss, and disparage Latina first-generation students' existing sources of knowledge, identity, and culture, resulting in long-term visible and invisible harm to their growth and well-being. Despite significant gains in higher education enrollment in the last two…

Latine/x are the second largest ethnic minority group nationwide with the highest rate of undergraduate enrollment (NCES, 2020). While that is true, Latine/x students are also retained at much lower rates in comparison to their White and Asian counterparts (Banks & Dohy, 2019). Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI), a model adopted by many…

Previous research has examined undergraduate student performance changes pre- and post-covid, overall and by institutional subgroupings. Standardized test scores tended to decline while high school and undergraduate grades increased. The current study expands upon this research by examining changes across student subgroups of interest, notably by…

School counselors provide college and career readiness (CCR) counseling and socioemotional support to assist students in planning and pursuing postsecondary education. However, little is known about students' perceptions of the effectiveness of meetings with school counselors during their preparation for postsecondary education and career…

First-generation (FG) college students (students for whom neither parent earned a bachelor's degree) are typically less likely to interact with their instructors and communicate with them by email or in person, compared to continuing-generation (CG) students. Qualitative research suggests FG students are less likely to seek help when they need it,…

Latinas often experience a double bind as they navigate STEM trajectories, a result of multiple layers of marginalization associated with their intersecting identities. Although developing robust science identities is key to the persistence, success, and sense of belonging of minoritized students in STEM (Carlone & Johnson, 2007; McGee, 2020),…

First-generation Latinas (FGLs) in higher education have experienced challenges attending predominantly White institutions. Lack of sense of belonging is a strong predictor for isolation, anxiety, and/or depression. In addition to cultural dissonance and racially driven climates, attending predominantly White institutions increase the odds against…

College enrollment trends in the United States are a subject of ongoing concern due to the role higher education plays in shaping the future workforce. Enrollment has gone through periods of growth and decline over the past two decades, reflecting changes in the nation's demographics, economy, and views on the value of a college degree. Total…