This dissertation explores the intricate dynamics between the self-perceptions of undergraduate mathematics (UM) educators and their conceptions of excellent teaching practices conducive to student learning. Employing a sequential mixed methods approach, the study addresses two primary research questions. First, it investigates educators'…

The purpose of this qualitative research was to examine transgender, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming (trans*) students' perceptions of prospective colleges and universities that impacted their choice to attend and their sense of belonging at the institution before attending. The study aimed to make sense of their college transition experience…

Recruiting and retaining students of color in colleges of education in predominately White institutions (PWIs) is a source of concern. Efforts to reverse this trend have proven unsuccessful. This article uses the Expectancy-Value-Cost motivational framework to understand three underlying cultural costs that negatively impact preservice teachers of…

The #metoo movement has drawn attention to the significant issue of sexual assault. The concern has been so considerable that the US Department of Education (DoE) mandated adherence to various crime prevention, reporting and support practices through the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). As…

Institutional Title IX processes fail to adequately address harms and needs which result from campus sexual misconduct, leaving many students dissatisfied. The purpose of this action research study was to investigate this problem within a specific university community and consider how to aim for improvement. Through surveys, interviews, and a…

This basic qualitative interview study explored the perceptions of 18 gender-expansive individuals for whom gender identity exists beyond society's binary construct of gender. Participants have been or are employees or students at a four-year public higher education institution in southern California. This study examined participants' perceptions…

As minorities, people of diverse sexual orientations and genders often feel that they do not belong within higher education. To combat this, connection is important, but that can be difficult in the uncertain, predominantly online world of universities. The Ally Program is a university-wide, extra-curricular online training program aimed at…

For students with marginalized social identities, it can be challenging to navigate undergraduate experiences at predominantly white institutions (PWIs). To better understand lived experiences, ten focus groups were completed with students that represented various marginalized social identities and roles on campus. Bronfenbrenner's ecological…

This research examines how Turkish undergraduates construct "campus" metaphors to represent their opinions about campus phenomenon in the context of a Turkish university. The present study adopted a phenomenological approach. The participants of this study were 92 students in the 2020-2021 academic year from different faculties and…

Each year, only 60% of high school graduates in Washington transition to postsecondary education within one year. Family engagement is a critical part of the college search and transition process. Families are often involved in campus visits, financial planning, and the shifting of norms and responsibilities when a student begins their higher…

The role of higher education continues to evolve beyond teaching and academic learning. Faculty and staff can enrich academic experiences and foster a culture of care by promoting the importance of meaning and purpose with students and colleagues. Some scholars argue that higher education has been deficient in creating places of deep, holistic,…

Few studies address the lived experiences of transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) students in engineering. Grounded in critical trans politics (Spade, 2015), this dissertation contributes to the literature on TGNC students in engineering by examining their experiences negotiating their identities while navigating interrelated systems of…

Retaining students in higher education is ever-changing, requiring continual evaluation and institutional commitment to ensure measures are implemented to meet the varying demands of today's college students. Student-athletes make up a large percentage of the overall student population on many college campuses, thus, warranting further research to…

Higher education diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives have become an imperative for institutional change in an ever-changing pluralistic society. The impact of diversity on college campuses has come a long way since the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Chang, 2005), but there is still needed work. Higher education institutions continue to…

Shifts in demographic and cultural change in American society, particularly the growth of the Hispanic and Latino/a population, have shed light on inequalities in education and revealed institutional barriers to Hispanic learning in doctoral education programs. This best practice paper contextualizes Hispanic and Latino/a Learners (HLL) within…