International students play a significant role in U.S. higher education; however, these students' perspectives are rarely explored following graduation. Much of the literature centers issues related to persistence and retention with an emphasis on first year undergraduate students, missing the breadth of international student experience. This…

Alumni associations are established by higher education institutions to formalise relationships with alumni, and to nurture alumni loyalty over time. This study investigates drivers of perceived value for an alumni association, and the effects that perceived value and satisfaction have on alumni loyalty. Data were collected from 1711 respondents…

This study examines alumni motivations for engagement and philanthropic contributions at one small, public, liberal arts college struggling with low alumni participation. In an electronic survey, three categories of alumni (donors, inconsistent donors, and non-donors) responded to 28 multiple choice questions and two open-ended questions. The…

This report shares the findings from the 2025 Ruffalo Noel Levitz (RNL) National Alumni Survey, a research study based on survey data from more than 50,000 alumni. In collaboration with 21 institutions, alumni were invited to describe their volunteer activity, what inspires them to give, satisfaction with and sense of current connection to their…

Alumni demographics are rapidly changing, and alumni associations are looking for new ways to increase alumni engagement. Using Lewin's (1947) organizational change theory and Homans's (1958) social exchange theory, this study examines two Research 1 institutions in a comparative case study. By comparing the experiences of two institutions, alumni…

While traditional assessment models effectively evaluate student learning objectives within the classroom, they often fail to capture the extent to which students practice civic engagement, critical inquiry, and global citizenship following graduation. As educators, we often do not know whether students employ these concepts and embrace these…

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) continue to be a hub and model for Black student success. For Black women, specifically, such institutional types have pronounced effects on personal identity and professional development. The theory of vibe serves as an entryway to better understanding how Black women view and internalize the…

Academic advising plays a vital role in shaping the student experience and significantly impacts an institution's retention rate. When students establish a supportive relationship with an academic advisor, they feel more connected to their institution and are more likely to remain engaged. Identifying proactive strategies in online learners'…

This paper is an evaluation of undergraduate college students' participation in the Student Alumni Association (SAA) at the University of South Florida. I evaluated benefits of participating in the program, why students do not participate in the program, and if participation affected students' persistence through college. Undergraduate students…

Outdoor Adventure Education (OAE) programs are important developmental contexts for youth. Researchers have long sought to understand the lasting impacts of programs and what moments are linked to these impacts. However, little research has examined the types of events that occur during OAE programs are most impactful to a participant's identity.…

Historically Black college and university (HBCU) leaders lack strategies to enlist and retain donations from alumni to support long-term sustainability. HBCU leaders are concerned with developing and implementing strategies for enlisting and retaining alumni donations. Grounded in resource dependency theory, the purpose of this qualitative case…

This qualitative grounded theoretical study examined the experiences of 13 Black male alumni aged 25-50 who received special education services in the Boston Public Schools (BPS). Through semi-structured interviews and rigorous thematic analysis, this research uncovered nuanced narratives that revealed salient themes central to participants'…

This study focuses on analyzing how Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) can better prepare students for employability and graduate school following graduation. The perceptions of HBCU alumni was used to assess what role attending an HBCU played in their success and employability preparation. This data collected from this study…

Recent alumni participated in this qualitative study to determine factors that influence alumni engagement. Each participant completed a pre-interview survey to determine their student involvement scores, which were grouped into three groups -- high, medium, and low engagement. I created interview questions and a protocol. Following the completion…

This dissertation aims to explore the donor characteristics at a large southern public doctoral granting university. The goal is to better understand alumni donor motives and the changing intrinsic needs of the donor across generations. Economic and philosophical theories including Social Exchange Theory, Warm Glow, and Recognition Theory will be…