Although the enrollment rates of Latino college students has increased over the last decade, the graduation rate of Latino students has not kept pace. The Latino population is the largest and fastest growing minority group in the United States, but the college graduation rate of Latino students is among the lowest of all minorities. Despite the…

Sociological research has long been interested in inequalities generated by and within educational institutions. Although relatively rich as a literature, less analytic focus has centered on educational mobility and inequality experiences within graduate training specifically. In this article, we draw on a combination of survey and open-ended…

Colleges around the country have adopted technology tools to simplify planning and registration processes and provide interventions to support students' timely completion. However, there is little evidence of these tools' efficacy in improving student progression and completion (c.f., Rossman et al., 2021; Velasco et al., 2020). The minimal impact…

When students can find commonalities with others at a university in terms of race, ethnicity, or first-generation status, they also build a strong identity and, in turn, find a sense of belonging. We studied a Title V student center, "The Center," at a Hispanic-Serving Institution, using a counterspaces framework to understand how…

In the latest addition to the National College Attainment Network's (NCAN) state policy resource library, we present a new report about how to simplify state financial aid programs. While maximum award amounts tend to grab headlines, the fine print can make all the difference in whether students can access and retain state aid. Those most impacted…

Objective: To identify the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation that would place university students at risk for mental health disorders. To explore the source of stressors and possible interventions that may benefit student mental health in a university setting. Participants: University students (n = 483) who had been learning…

Field biology courses can be formative learning experiences that develop students' science identities. Yet, they can also pose challenges to students that may disaffirm their science identities--especially to those who identify with underrepresented, excluded, and minoritized groups. It is largely unknown how students' social (e.g., gender) and…

This dissertation delves into the intersections of social and cultural capital, self-advocacy, sense of belonging, and the experiences of mental health help-seeking among rural, first-generation college students. Rural, first-generation college students face unique challenges throughout their academic journey, this dissertation aims to contribute…

The benefits of a college degree are undeniable, particularly in a global economy and a very competitive workforce. Although nontraditional college students make up more than 70% of students attending college today, only 38% of nontraditional students earn a degree, while more than 60% of traditional students graduate with a degree (NCES, 2012);…

Data show that the university student population is increasingly more diverse than in the past. Certainly, the conventional college student profile has evolved with approximately three out of every four students now falling into groups previously deemed nontraditional, including adult learners and first-generation students and students who…

As the field of music education explores ways to mitigate barriers for underrepresented populations along the path to becoming a music teacher, the experiences of first-generation college students (FGCSs) in music teacher education programs warrant exploration. The purpose of this narrative study was to explore the lived experiences and…

This qualitative case study proposes a pedagogy to support the academic success of students from historically excluded groups (HEGs), e.g. first-generation students, low-income students, and Students of Color, who are struggling academically. We adopted a 'student-ready' approach (McNair et al. 2016), which foregrounds institutional responsibility…

Emerging adult, first-generation college students (FGCSs) face academic and social challenges in their adjustment to college. FGCSs are more likely to be students of color and from lower socioeconomic backgrounds who may face particularly difficult challenges when they attend highly selective, predominantly White Institutions (PWIs) that have…

San José's public schools provide a quality education, enhanced by programs and services that advance students' educational outcomes. Yet it is estimated that less than 4 of 10 students starting 9th grade will successfully navigate a path to and through postsecondary education. Many of these students lack clear guidance, financial resources,…

Recent research studies on student well-being in higher education have emphasised the importance of various psychological factors, however, in online learning environments, demographic factors have been shown to have particularly strong relationships with wellbeing. This mixed-methods study explored the relationship between demographic variables…