To bridge the practice gap between academic nurse training programs and workforce entry, hospital administrators have implemented nurse residency programs, designed to foster the experiential learning required for the development of new graduate nurse competency. These structured orientations to professional practice have varied in content design…

The experiences students have as they pursue graduate degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) are governed by numerous dynamics that are at play outside the context of any classroom. The relationships students share with their peers, advisors, administration, and university significantly impacts their trajectory as…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the satisfaction of international graduate students at private, religion-based universities. The study was conducted with international graduate students at three private, religious-based universities in the Midwest. An explanatory sequential mixed-method design was utilized and data were collected via…

International graduate students are on the rise while the undergraduate international student body decreased (IEE, 2022b). International students bring diverse cultures and financial benefits to higher educational institutions in the U.S. International graduate students need more support in language and culture, especially for their disciplinary…

Despite many theories on student success as well as many resources to help students make the transition from high school to college, many students do not persist in or graduate from college. The purpose of this dissertation is to provide insight into what takes place when students leave P-12 institutions and enter institutions of higher education…

When young adults with disabilities (YAWD) age out of the system, they face what has colloquially been termed "the cliff," which symbolizes the sudden drop in services that occur as they transition out of high school; needs previously met at school are left unaddressed. Multiple options have been suggested to meet these needs, including…

Adults with disabilities are more likely than their non-disabled peers to struggle with self-advocacy after graduating from school, as they are less likely to have the skills or knowledge necessary to communicate their needs, access services, or exercise their rights in communities and workplaces. Special Education transition programs are…

Most recent data confirms that the transition and learning "gap between youth and young adults (ages 14-24) with and without disabilities remains significant despite decades of federal and state legislation intended to improve education and employment opportunities" (Cheng & Shaewitz, 2020, p. 28). Researchers have highlighted that…

Transitioning away from high school to postsecondary life can be a complicated process for any young person. This process can be made more difficult for students with disabilities if options are not put in place before they leave high school. This is where the transition process becomes an important development to help guide students with…

A committee comprised of the former state superintendent and educational leaders launched a unique high school program (pseudonym Connections) to support the delivery of a high school curriculum that would prepare students for college and careers. Students in Connections complete their 4 years of high school, supported by an Advocate who guides…

The outcomes of special education learning and transition services for K-12 public school special education graduated students is less often investigated in the field of education. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to understand the perspectives of post-high school K-12 graduated students concerning their perceptions of the…

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the delivery of services for students with disabilities. There is limited knowledge on the relationship between the transition services students received during the pandemic and their post-school outcomes. This study utilized a qualitative phenomenological design to informed by Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems…

A qualitative approach was utilized in this study to examine four transition programs' best educational practices in building transition programs for eighth to ninth grade. An analysis of a retrospective study of the four transition programs provided data to support recommendations for best educational practices to build a transition program for…

Parent engagement in the transition planning process for students with IEPs is an essential indicator for positive post-school outcomes for students with disabilities graduating from high school. Barriers to parent participation include lack of communication, trust, and knowledge of the process in which they are participating. Educators must seek…

Parent involvement during the transition planning meetings prior to graduation was aligned with real student success in post-secondary outcomes of work or education. When parents were not aware or had access to resources for supporting successful transitions, special needs students suffered, specifically of African American culture. This study…