This study examines the experiences of STEM aspiring community college transfer students engaged in a STEM Bridge program, designed to address critical barriers in transfer pathways, including financial challenges, poor communication of transfer policies, and institutional challenges that result from ineffective partnerships between community…

In recent years, multiple physics education research studies were conducted with a goal of understanding and improving graduate education in physics. Using a variety of frameworks and methodologies, these studies have documented policies and practices in graduate programs and the results of these studies have influenced policies and practices…

This paper presents a case study on the development and implementation of an online pre-arrival resource at the University of Manchester, aimed at enhancing the sense of belonging among first-year undergraduate offer holders. The resource leverages student-staff co-creation, inclusive pedagogy and student-led content to support new students'…

A persistent challenge for Australian higher education policymakers and researchers has been to understand why policies and practices have met with limited success in widening the participation and attainment of non-traditional students. This paper explores theorising Narrative Identity as a constructive methodological framework for understanding…

Equity students entering higher education through Enabling programs often encounter significant challenges as they transition into the academic field. This transition involves navigating the hysteresis juncture, a moment of misalignment between students' ingrained habitus and the expectations of the academic environment. This study explores the…

This article challenges the "remedial" and "developmental" framing of summer bridge programs. The study used semi-structured interviews and focus groups to assess 63 students of Color who participated in a 5-week summer bridge program. Through the theoretical concept of counterspace, findings showed that the intentional…

Students who leave school early is an issue of global concern, and various measures have been taken to help early leavers return to school, including second chance education programmes. This qualitative case study explores their reasons for continuing education in a second chance education programme in a successful educational centre located in…

This article looks at the effects of culture on the success of disadvantaged students in higher education, and in turn, the success or effectiveness of college bridge programs. McBay (1995) contends that there is no program that completely addresses the needs of disadvantaged students, but there are lessons to be learned. With this in mind, one…

Like many institutions around the world, Chinese universities have established systems of 'local student buddies' to ensure international students' smooth transition to university life in China. This paper examines this underexplored form of internationalization-at-home by focusing on the experiences of Chinese buddies, who host international…

Chicana/Latina undergraduate students represent a significant and growing proportion of student enrollment in higher education institutions in the United States, particularly in states like California that have critical masses of Chicanx/Latinx communities. Despite their increasing enrollment rates, Chicana/Latina college students continue to…

This study investigates the impact of readiness programs on Early Admission (EA) students at a 2-year public college. EA programs allow high school seniors students to enroll full-time in college courses while earning both high school and college credits. However, these students often face challenges in academic success, social-emotional support,…

Recent trends suggest that autistic young adults are increasingly accessing postsecondary education than in years past. However, these students often face unique challenges that negatively impact their college experience resulting in high dropout. The Mentoring, Organization and Social Support for Autism Inclusion on Campus (MOSSAIC) Program is a…

Substantial social stratification research conceptualizes education as a series of standard transitions from one stage to the next, such as from high school to college. Yet less research examines mandatory transitions within each educational stage, which we call "intermediate educational transitions." In this article, we examine a…

This qualitative case study explores student and staff perceptions of whether and how participation in pre-enrollment summer transition programs influenced the sense of belonging and preparedness of first-generation and limited-income students in their first year of college. These summer transition programs are provided as part of the Kessler…

Successful transition for students commencing university is a focus of increasing institutional interest and resourcing to optimise student success and retention. Investigation of student expectations of university commencement and their lived experience provides an opportunity for identification of a potential mismatch which has received less…