Using a qualitative, naturalistic inquiry research design, and following the guide principles for conducting research with American Indian populations, this study explored how American Indian college students develop a sense of well-being as they pursue an associate degree in a rural community college. To understand well-being from an American…

To ascertain variance and predictive measure between respondents' self-reported time of disclosure and disability identity development while mitigating for confounding variables: social desirability, transition planning experience, visibility, ethnicity, gender, veteran status, and age, research was conducted at a public two-year institution.…

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of identity negotiation and capital in the context of first-generation college students' use of supports in community college and four-year institutions. The study followed Merriam's and Tisdell's (2016) basic interpretive design as the methodological approach. A sample of 17 participants were…

The aim of this dissertation was to evaluate the effect of the Columbia International University Prison Initiative program on the spirituality of male inmates incarcerated within South Carolina's Department of Corrections. The Prison Initiative program is an accredited two-year associate's degree in Biblical studies offered to SCDC inmates.…

Career technical education is an essential element for the workforce development needs of employers in the United States of America. The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020-2021 has created challenges for higher education and has affected the lives of faculty and students in different ways. The purpose of this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenology study was…

Academic mid-level managers, despite their work history and education, are not always prepared for the duties and responsibilities of their current positions or for senior-level management positions. The purpose of this study was to examine how academic mid-level managers perceived intentionally-designed professional development at a suburban…

Community colleges in Northern and Southeastern Virginia have struggled with enrollment and retention of adult learners. Addressing adult learners' needs is an important focus for instructors, yet few studies have addressed how instructors can use andragogy, the art and science of adult learning, to influence their instructional practices to…

Research showed that the college environment threatens the mental health development of students. The community college (CC) system is unique and the development of the psychological well-being (PWB) of students studying at CCs has not been extensively studied. It is also worth answering the question that how PWB relates to CC students' academic…

Colleges are currently involved in an epic struggle to keep students enrolled. One reason for student attrition involves non-academic issues such as executive functioning. In the present study, we investigated how journaling helped influence paradigm shifts in students' thinking regarding a growth mindset towards their educational performance. We…

This qualitative study examined the narrative of community college educators during their journey to embrace a playful teaching practice. Data collection included the narratives produced within a Community of Practice, focus groups with both students and educators, and document analysis. Data analysis revealed six themes. The first theme, origins…

The experiential consequences of being a dual graduate were explored through the qualitative research methods of phenomenological collective case study. The overarching research questions were, what do dual graduates have to say about their experiences? And, based on their experiences, who did they become and who did they consider important in the…

The experiential consequences of being a dual graduate were explored through the qualitative research methods of phenomenological collective case study. The overarching research questions were, what do dual graduates have to say about their experiences? And, based on their experiences, who did they become and who did they consider important in the…

The experiential consequences of being a dual graduate were explored through the qualitative research methods of phenomenological collective case study. The overarching research questions were, what do dual graduates have to say about their experiences? And, based on their experiences, who did they become and who did they consider important in the…

In December 2018, the Dean of Academic Affairs (DAA) was approached by the coach and members of the Southtown Community College (STC) basketball team regarding academic support for the team. The academic affairs team would delve into this situation and discover several areas where the college had failed these students. This study examines the…

The prevailing view of student retention has been shaped by theories that view student attrition through the lens of institutional action or inaction and less on the student's situation or college experiences. Students seek to persist and graduate, however obstacles get in their way. More than half of all student attrition takes place in the first…