Student success courses are a common strategy for addressing student retention in higher education. Though the literature implies positive effect on student outcomes, few studies have explored factors contributing to their efficacy, especially within the community college context. The purpose of this modified Delphi study was to identify essential…

While students have enrolled in college at increased rates since 1996, graduation rates have remained mostly stagnant (NCES, 2022). First-generation Appalachian students, specifically, had lower college completion rates but higher college enrollment rates than their peers (ARC, 2018). Since 2007, researchers have supported the use of non-cognitive…

Low-income, first-generation (LIFG) student enrollment into postsecondary education programs has been steadily increasing over the last decade. These two groups of marginalized students are habitually overlooked regarding the need for additional supports as they often lack any visual indicators of their LIFG status. LIFG students arrive on-campus…

This correlational study utilized secondary, longitudinal data to examine the extent to which student-influenced and institution-influenced factors predict the academic success and degree completion of engineering transfer students at public four-year institutions in North Carolina. The sample included students who transferred from community…

College dropout crisis has become one the major problems in U.S. Higher Education. Over the past decade, universities nation-wide have been trying to better understand the specific factors that influence undergraduate degree completion and have initiated multiple educational practices to increase the quality and quantity of students they graduate.…

The future of the workforce requires post-secondary education and the ability to effectively use technology. Technology has become an integral part of education, business, and daily life. Yet, there remains a digital divide for many individuals. Increasingly, community colleges are using technology in the classroom and as part of the processes…

Students of traditionally disadvantaged backgrounds generally need to receive extra support as they enter college. Many resources have been developed to address this issue, such as peer-counseling programs, faculty-mentoring programs, and federally funded TRIO Programs. There is an increase in retention problems in higher education communities and…

Community colleges are Black males' primary pathway to higher education. Less than a third of Black males, however, are likely to attain a certificate or degree within 6 years. Although no single intervention can formally improve their academic trajectory, interventions absent of culturally and gender-specific approaches and institutional…

With the ongoing demographic shifts in the United States, there continues to be an increase of students from low-income households seeking further education (Castleman & Goodman, 2018, p. 20; Fry & Cilluffo, 2019, para. 3). One in three college students in the United States is considered low-income and has Pell Grant eligibility (Lumina…

Purpose: This study explores the challenges facing FGCSs and seeks to provide strategies, opportunities, and novel and actionable insights for increasing retention and graduation rates among FGCSs in community colleges during and post the COVID-19 pandemic period. The study further identifies whether and how the COVID-19 pandemic magnified these…

The primary purpose of this study was to determine if there was a statistically significant difference in the bachelor's degree graduation rates of three groups of undergraduate students at a regional, public university in Kentucky. The three groups consisted of those registered with disability services, those registered with disability services…

Residential living requirements benefit students in a variety of meaningful ways. Living on campus can be an effective conduit in helping college students feel more committed and connected to their institutions. Existing research has demonstrated that students who live on-campus tend to be retained at higher rates, achieve higher grade point…

This study examines the impact of high school academic indicators and participation in the federally funded Upward Bound program on college graduation rates for first-generation, low-income students. Specifically the extent to which participation in the federally funded TRIO Upward Bound program and related factors--high school GPA, course rigor,…

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine at-risk students in a small rural high school and school district, and the implementation of a response to intervention program at the high school called CAT Time. CAT Time is approximately 40 mins long and occurs four times per week. Teachers can request a student participate in the CAT Time…

Existing research documents the importance and relevance of career and technical education (CTE) throughout American history. Beginning with the passage of the Smith-Hughes Act of 1917 to the passage of the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act in July of 2018, federal and state legislation continue to shape…