While community college is often seen as an avenue that provides access to higher education to a greater part of the population, community colleges have struggled with improving retention, persistence, and degree completion. Research highlights the importance of helping students develop a sense of belonging at the institution, which has been found…

This study examined two widely available light-touch, writing-based mindset interventions: one that targeted students' purpose for learning and one that aimed to increase students' growth mindset. In order to examine the potential mechanisms underlying previously reported effects of mindset interventions, we analyzed these interventions' effects…

Informational and behavioral barriers hinder social benefit take-up. We investigate the impact of mitigating these barriers through providing personalized information on benefits application status and application assistance on filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the gateway to college financial aid. Through a…

Field-based experiences are vital components of many undergraduate programs. However, assessing student performance in these settings can be challenging. Video-based observation is an approach to providing performance feedback that addresses these challenges and may also provide benefits not inherent in live observations. Using examples from our…

The focus of this qualitative case study was to examine the pre-COVID-19 church attendance decline of all generations in the United States. The problem addressed in this qualitative case study was the current church exodus among multiple generations of attendees and its impact for church leaders. The purpose of this case study was to examine…

Applied behavior analysis (ABA) interventions are delivered using a tiered-service model, in which supervisors with higher levels of experience, education, and certification oversee clinicians who provide direct intervention for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Despite the base of empirical support for ABA constructed over several…

Density is a difficult concept for students to understand because it cannot be directly observed. If students are to gain a deeper understanding of the concept of density, they need to learn about density at both the microscopic and macroscopic levels. Virtual reality provides an opportunity for learners to experience phenomena at microscopic…

Elementary students have continued to struggle in mathematics nationally which causes concern among educators about how to improve achievement. While educators have a plethora of technology resources, these resources have not improved the overall performance of students in math. Recently, the digital badge has become a tool to help impact student…

This study was undertaken to address issues resulting from the vagueness of imprecisely defined legislative language located in the Bankruptcy Reform Act of1978 (Public Law 95-598) and subsequent policies, regulations, and laws such as the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (Public Law 109-8);which relate to the…

This dissertation seeks to understand the internationalization of public higher education in the United States through the investigation of an international programs office at a large land-grant university. The study identifies internationalization trends in higher education after World War II and focuses on the internationalization of The…

In schools across America a veiled and dangerous problem continues to grow that impacts millions of students daily; that problem is student absenteeism from school. The more frequently a student misses school, the wider the achievement gap becomes. During the 2009-2010 school year, data collected from the United States Department of Education…

This protocol guides the review of research that informs the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) practice guide on Career and Technical Education at Community Colleges. The review-specific protocol is used in conjunction with the "WWC Procedures and Standards Handbooks (version 4.0)." The Practice Guide will draw from rigorous research to…

Traditionally, post-secondary developmental mathematics courses aspire to equip students with mathematical content knowledge needed to succeed in calculus and subsequent STEM courses. The literature shows that this goal alone is insufficient, as the emphasis on content acquisition often comes at the expense of developing higher-order skills such…

Teachers and students are being held to higher expectations due to national educational policies. Because of large class sizes, teachers at the case study site have elevated workloads to prepare students for International Baccalaureate (IB) exams. The study aimed to better understand how teachers create feedback for student success. The feedback…

The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of the reading program, System 44, on students with learning disabilities in grades six and seven at a small rural middle school. The middle school implemented the reading program during the 2018-2019 school year to assist students reading below grade level to "catch up" or close the…