This study examined the effect of attending Pre-K 4 SA on students' educational achievement in third and fourth grades. Pre-K 4 SA is a high-quality pre-kindergarten (pre-K) program in San Antonio that meets all quality standards defined by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER). The results showed that distance to Pre-K 4 SA…

Objective: To investigate what factors are associated with food insecurity (FI) among freshman students and identify potential solutions. Participants: 73 freshman students. Methods: Cross-sectional, Internet survey-based study. Fisher's Exact tests examined factors associated with food security (FS); Cohen's Kappa assessed the agreement between…

Course withdrawals may lead to financial burdens for students, institutions, states, and the federal government. Understanding consequences of course withdrawal is key to understanding its implications and developing interventions to improve student success. Since no research has examined course withdrawal behaviors and their relations to student…

As academic librarians engage in Open Educational Resources (OER) creation and adoption programs, exploring student perceptions of OER provides information that can be used to revise and improve OER, to inform faculty perceptions, and to contextualize the benefits of OER in relation to student financial concerns. This case study explores how…

This study examined the academic persistence of student fathers at a Texas community college through a single-site case study approach. Two key research questions guided the inquiry: (1) How did the community college describe its efforts to support academic persistence for student fathers? (2) What factors did student fathers perceive as…

The experiences of first-generation college students (FGCS) can guide the development of effective practices for supporting and retaining these students. Open-ended interviews with 10 FGCS produced themes related to challenges and strategies for success. Applied thematic analysis identified barriers in school, home, and work settings, including a…

Objective: To determine the prevalence and characteristics of food insecurity among female collegiate athletes. Participants: NCAA Division I female athletes attending a public university located in East Texas in 2018. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional online survey was employed to gather quantitative and qualitative data regarding food…

All Texans deserve access to affordable, high-quality learning opportunities that lead to credentials of value--postsecondary credentials that will unlock their potential, help them provide for their families, and pursue their dreams. Helping students understand the financial choices they will make before, during and after their postsecondary…

The COVID-19 pandemic has substantially impacted higher education. The unexpected move to online learning and support services has created many challenges. International students, who often are unfamiliar with the culture and norms of American higher education, have been particularly disadvantaged. Analyzing data received through an online survey,…

The purpose of this study was to plan for, design, and launch the initial development phase of an affordable course materials initiative within the library at one Texas private four-year university. More specifically, the focus of the study centered on providing interested, volunteering academic faculty with the tools, resources, and expertise…

Many families with children who have learning disabilities want to send their child to a Catholic school, but often their children are turned away. This convergent parallel mixed methods study investigated whether Catholic elementary schools in Texas were serving students with disabilities and, if they were, was that decision toward inclusion…

This report examines links between immigration enforcement, related fears, and the mental health of Latino youth. It presents the findings of a survey of Latino students at five high schools in Harris County, Texas, and six high schools in four Rhode Island cities, conducted during the 2018-19 school year. The survey explored students' fears of…

In this study, 79 local school district leaders from the state of Texas were contacted and asked for their input relating to strategic practices used during an economic downturn. Findings describe how the recent funding cuts affected the varied districts; how the districts fared in comparison with similar districts in the area; steps the district…

Even as they struggle to climb out of deep financial holes, states are facing lawsuits that contend they do not meet their constitutions' requirements to provide sufficient funding to districts and fail to provide resources for disadvantaged schools and student populations. This article reports on legal battles in Texas, Colorado, and elsewhere…

As the demography of Texas and the United States changes, the spotlight must be placed on the evolving needs of the Hispanic college student. As the nation focuses on many challenges, the need for education reform is looming. Today's leaders in higher education need to understand the students who will face many barriers including those focused on…