Researchers have found young children's academic skills and life outcomes are correlated to teachers' postsecondary education. Despite this, 60% of infant/toddler-PK4 teachers who work in center-based settings in the District of Columbia do not have postsecondary education beyond the high school level. The purpose of this basic qualitative study…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions and development of community college students as they navigate stigmas associated with a 2-year collegiate institution within the mid-Atlantic region. Community colleges continue to be labeled as a disservice in regard to academically and holistically preparing nontraditional…

Purpose: E-health literacy (EHL) and healthy lifestyle behaviours (HLBs) are important for individuals receiving health education. Health professionals of the future should be conscious, e-health literate and develop HLBs. The aims of this study were to determine the EHL and HLBs of university students receiving health education and to examine the…

Improving baccalaureate degree attainment for transfer students continues to be a key topic across the nation. The Associate Degree for Transfer is the latest attempt to improve outcomes. This quantitative study examines the effectiveness of the Associate Degree for Transfer pathway program as compared to other transfer pathway programs over a…

Before nursing graduates can practice as a registered nurse, they must successfully pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Low first-time pass rates on this high-stakes test can cause concern for multiple stakeholders including graduate nurses, nursing programs, health care organizations, and society. The…

The purpose of the qualitative exploratory case study is to examine student veterans' perceptions of the utility of the 8 Keys to Veterans' Success (8 Keys) during their pursuit of associate degrees from a community college in Georgia, post-military service. The study explored the student veteran perspective by answering three research questions:…

The study examined how second-year African American males described their self-efficacy and persistence toward graduation after interacting with Appreciative Advising at a Texas community college. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six African American male students who were pursuing an associate degree full time at a small community…

More than half of states have implemented tuition-free college policies aimed at reducing attendance costs and incentivizing enrollment. We review the academic literature on the design features and impacts of these tuition-free policies, and we analyze an initiative Virginia implemented in 2021 called Get a Skill, Get a Job, Get Ahead (G3), which…

In response to rising college tuition and student debt over the past three decades, some institutions, localities, and states have implemented a range of tuition-free promise programs to promote college access and success. Programs vary widely in their design features, including eligibility stipulations and award structure. I explore the growing…

Get A Skill, Get A Job, Get Ahead (G3) is a state-funded last-dollar scholarship program for students enrolling in eligible associate degree, certificate, and noncredit occupational training programs in the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) in five high-demand fields: early childhood education, healthcare, information technology, public…

Research indicates that women and Students of Color are less likely than men or White students to succeed in STEM degree pathways due to pre-college factors, college engagement, and campus environments. Similarly, racially and ethnically minoritized students, particularly Black and Latinx students, are underrepresented in STEM degree fields and…

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the lived experiences of graduates of a Black Male Initiative (BMI) mentoring program at one associate-level College in the southeast region and the impact mentoring had on the participant's success at the college and its impact on obtaining their degree. Critical Race Theory (CRT) was the…

Nursing schools are limited in how many students can enter programs due to low faculty members, and faculty burnout is a concern. Nursing shortages at the bedside have encouraged strategies to increase the nursing workforce, including recruiting graduate nurses. However, insufficient faculty and student attrition are issues that prevent increasing…

This study examined how transfer students perceived the value of the associate's degree in the context of reverse credit transfer. Five student focus groups of transfer students provided individual and collective discourses on the perceptions of the associate's degree. The findings show that transfer students perceived the associate's degree to be…

The U.S. Department of Labor approved the first nationally registered K-12 teacher apprenticeship program in January 2022, opening the door to a rapidly growing pathway for prospective teachers. By October 2022, Texas had an approved program, and the Department of Labor has now approved registered teacher apprenticeships in more than 30 states.…