Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, online/Internet-based courses became an increasingly common method of instructional delivery at community colleges, which offer a convenient and cost-effective way to earn college credits, certificates, and degrees. Due to the pandemic, online/Internet-based courses expanded unprecedentedly in fiscal year 2021.…

This qualitative study explored the experiences of 10 Native Hawaiian members of Hawai'i's science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) community to understand how they navigate their cultural and professional identities. This article explores one of the major themes--being first-generation college students--and the narrators'…

Since the 1990s, colleges and universities throughout the United States have witnessed a substantial increase in student population demographics. In particular, upticks have been reported in the number of first-generation students enrolling in colleges and universities. There is evidence that first-generation college students often face…

Do you ever feel like more and more of your students come to your classroom not knowing how to study or what to do in order to be successful in your class? Some students come to college knowing the ropes, knowing what it takes to be successful as STEM students. But many do not. Research shows that students who are the first-generation in their…

The number of first-generation college students, whose parents have not earned a bachelor's degree, has steadily risen in institutions of higher education. The literature suggests that first-generation college students differ from their continuing-education counterparts, experience unique challenges while earning their degrees, and are less likely…

This study examines relationships between dual enrollment and high school graduation, college enrollment, college choice (2-year or 4-year), and persistence in college among Nebraska's 2018 high school graduating class. Unlike previous studies that focus on states where dual enrollment is standardized and subsidized by state policy, the Nebraska…

Using a psychosociocultural framework, we examined 122 Indian American undergraduates' well-being, with an emphasis on cultural processes. The student sample was primarily first-generation to college with differences emerging by student standing for coping approaches, perception of barriers that would prompt withdrawal, congruity, and well-being.…

Understanding undergraduate student success is central to addressing issues in the current education climate. Many barriers exist for students; however, even more barriers exist for first-generation college students. Especially difficult for first-generation college students is access to social capital with regards to higher education. The current…

Aim/Purpose: The exorbitant cost of traditional textbooks, which particularly impact low-income, underrepresented minority groups, can be a barrier to student success in higher education that contributes to educational inequities. The aim of this multi-methodology study, conducted at a mid-Atlantic minority-serving institution that serves…

Although postgraduate expansion swiftly followed the massification of undergraduate provision, with classed inequalities in access, postgraduate taught (PGT) education has rarely received the same level of scholarly attention as the critical mass of undergraduate research. To address this partial research lacuna, the paper traces 41 biographical…

College students who engage in first-year programs such as peer mentorship are correlated with increased achievement, subjective enjoyment of their university experience, sense of belonging, and campus participation. While the effects of peer mentorship have been consistent, there has been little information shared considering the characteristics…

The Undergraduate Scholarships with Mathematics and Science Training, Exploration, and Research Program (US MASTER) is a STEM scholarship program funded by the United States National Science Foundation. It was implemented at an upper-Midwest institution to target and provide structured support to low-income, academically talented undergraduates in…

The purpose of this qualitative narrative study was to understand how Black first-generation doctoral recipients used their cultural capital to navigate structural barriers and oppression enacted by stakeholders at non-Black serving institutions. Findings revealed that Black first-generation doctoral students used nine forms of cultural capital to…

Post-secondary education is essential to the development of our nation (Miller, 2006; The White House, n.d.). Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States already faced a college attainment gap (Miller, 2006; Jenkins, 2011; Welton & Martinez, 2013). The fallout from the pandemic has caused additional issues related to higher education…

My case study focused on the message communicated through the university's fundraising campaign titled For the Bold and sought to determine if the campaign messaging influenced decision-making of first-generation sophomores (FGS) attending William & Mary as they selected majors and formed career choices. The campaign message emphasized the…