Many departments seek to improve their equity, diversity, and inclusion using data-informed methods; however, not much is known about how closely department leadership aligns their review practices with appropriate theory. This dissertation seeks to explore four areas: 1) how are equity, diversity, and inclusion are being conceptualized (implied…

Western Carolina University (WCU) enrolls students from many different backgrounds and demographic categories. While access to the institution has expanded over the years, equity gaps still exist relative to retention and graduation outcomes for students in different demographic groups. Several offices at the University offer programing and…

Most higher education institutions in the United States would not be able to answer, "how many LGBTQ+ students are at your school?" Rarely are colleges and universities asking students to self-identify their sexual or gender identity, leading to disconnect with the community, gaps of information, and difficulty with outreach. The purpose…

This exploratory case study identified administrative competencies that multiple stakeholders perceive to be important for fostering an inclusive and accessible learning environment for students with disabilities in a small, suburban school district located in Southwest Ohio. It consists of a comparative assessment of stakeholder perceptions of…

An achievement gap is defined as a significant difference in academic performance between two groups. Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) data indicate that, in Crestland Public School District (pseudonym), there is a clear achievement gap in mathematics between students with disabilities and those without disabilities,…