The purpose of this qualitative case study is to understand the experiences of adult graduate students who stop-out, or take a break from enrollment, but who ultimately persist by reenrolling. The participants in this study were enrolled in an online master's degree program. Symbolic interactionism was the theoretical framework for this study…

This paper examines gender disparities in university student pathways in Italy, from initial enrolment to completion of a bachelor's degree and enrolment in a subsequent master's programme. While it is established that females generally outperform males in completion rates and final grades, little has been done to analyse retention up to the…

The transition to graduate school is a unique experience that is challenging for every student as they leave behind many sources of support and enter a new environment that requires incredible independence to navigate. However, programs and institutions often do not focus on supporting the needs of graduate students specifically. Previous research…

Enrollment in master level programs, particularly online, have been increasing nationwide. Students enrolled in online master's programs tend to be older and more ethnically diverse, and are likely to be balancing work, finances, and family responsibilities with their educational pursuits. These challenges have resulted in higher attrition rates…

Despite continued growth in enrollments, graduate program attrition rates are of great concern to academic program coordinators. It is estimated that only 40 to 50 percent of students who begin Ph.D. programs complete their degrees. This book describes programs, initiatives, and interventions that lead to overall student retention and success.…

This multiple case study included fifteen international masters' students and graduates enrolled in four different online universities located in the United States. One over the phone interview and two online questionnaires explored participants' perceptions about online program completion. In this study, a thematic approach assisted in coding…

Generationally, Black women have faced oppression in both the workplace and academia and the oppression and marginalization suffered by Black women has often been ignored. This research aimed to explore the factors leading to success for Black women in CACREP accredited master's level clinical mental health training programs. Narrative inquiry was…

Institutions of higher education are encountering shifting trends in student enrollment and must embrace interdisciplinary approaches to address student recruitment and retention. This study explores reasons why students choose to leave an online MSW program. Data were collected through telephone interviews with students leaving the program during…

Open Distance e-Learning (ODeL) is on the rise to cater to non-traditional students. However, the surge in master's and doctoral students opting for ODeL raises concerns about the quality and timely completion of degrees. Existing literature on student attrition in higher education indicates that both student-related factors and institutional…

This study explored the perspectives of seven Lakota females who graduated from Oglala Lakota College (OLC) master's degree in Lakota Leadership and Management or Lakota Leadership and Management with an emphasis in Education Administration programs. Education histories, cultural identification, and college experiences were evaluated to…

The purpose of this phenomenological case study was to better understand the lived experiences of students enrolled in the Boyker-Anoroc Bridge Program. The Bridge Program was designed to increase the persistence of underrepresented minority (URM) graduate students in STEM doctoral programs. The participants in the study recounted their…

The purpose of this phenomenological case study was to better understand the lived experiences of students enrolled in the Boyker-Anoroc Bridge Program. The Bridge Program was designed to increase the persistence of underrepresented minority (URM) graduate students in STEM doctoral programs. The participants in the study recounted their…

The call for an increase in college graduates at all levels has placed greater scrutiny on what universities are doing to engage, retain, and graduate students. Institutions and researchers have looked to retention models to guide those strategies; however, most models have focused on the undergraduate student. To date, there is no empirical data…

The purpose of the study was to measure graduate students' academic hardiness (GSAH) and academic self-efficacy (GSASE) and to examine the relationships between the two. A total of 202 graduate students across disciplines were recruited to complete two questionnaires (GSAH and GSASE). Results of exploratory factor analyses showed that the GSAH and…

Over the past decade, the researcher has completed two university degrees from accredited Canadian universities through online distance education (ODE) offerings. Research suggests that these experiences and subsequent acquisition of university degrees through ODE are not the norms (Clay et al., 2009; Hart 2012; Lee & Choi, 2010). The…