This dissertation measures and describes the factors that impact doctoral student persistence. Using a mixed methods cases study design, I analyzed institutional student record data, survey data on caregiving responsibilities, and data from semi-structured interviews with PhD students at a STEM-focused, public research university in the American…

Completing a program of study and earning a credential is a mark of student perseverance and success. Student completion rates can tell us how well colleges and universities support students in completing an educational program. A research study by the US Department of Education reported students who completed non-degree certificate programs had…

Professional occupations take time and dedication. Careers are chosen, but some are callings. Teaching requires a calling to survive the many levels of expectations and rigor needed to reach the youth of today. Education is a constant juggling act of professional responsibility and personal balance. The lines of professional and personal lives…

Stronger administrative support for teachers has consistently been shown to increase teacher retention (Holmes et al., 2019). Nationally, researchers have explored the connection between administrative support and teacher retention, however, administrative support is not clearly defined (Billingsley & Bettini, 2019; Podolsky et al., 2019;…

For decades, universities, colleges, researchers, policymakers, foundations, and think tanks have been trying to solve the issue of getting more students to persist to graduation. Research shows that the problem of increasing the number of students who graduate in four years with a college degree still exists. Black female students continue to…

The vast amount of data collected during online learning offers opportunities to advance newer interventions that might aid learning. One such intervention has been learning analytics dashboards, visualizations designed to translate learning-related data into usable information. However, many student-facing dashboards compare learners' performance…

In the past few decades, increased use of federal student loans has created an enormous financial burden for many first-generation and low-income students who attend 4-year public postsecondary institutions to attain a degree. Reaching those educational goals for many undergraduate students and how they reach their goals has been at the heart of…

This study explores the math identities and teaching practices of six female educators in Los Angeles. Through in-depth interviews, the study finds that math identity is a complex intersection of multiple identities, representation is important for encouraging female students to pursue STEM fields, and the Common Core standards provide a valuable…

Students coming into college lack the basic non-cognitive skills necessary for success in higher education. As a result, many students struggle in their early courses. Most college admissions focus on cognitive measures such as high school grade point averages (GPA) and high-stakes exams; however, these factors alone are not the sole predictors of…

This qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study was based on the problem statement; it was not known how some doctoral students pursuing their online doctoral program, overcame negative life events or setbacks to complete their doctoral program. The study examined doctoral completion from the angle of an added layer of complexity resulting…

Teacher retention is a challenge for schools across the country. For private and independent schools, teacher attrition is twice that of public and charter schools. The rate of teacher attrition has increased dramatically attributable to the global pandemic, making this a critical issue for K-12 education. Using an Improvement Science approach,…

In order to address the nationwide problem of teaching shortages impacting Rhode Island schools, the Rhode Island Department of Education's (RIDE) 2021-2027 Strategic Plan commits to supporting local education agencies in the development of strategies to attract, recruit, and retain a highly skilled and diverse workforce that reflects Rhode…

Military students face many challenges in the transition from military life to higher education. From psychological, mental health issues, career changes, and difficulties interacting and building relationships, many obstacles can delay or stop a military student's path to degree attainment. This study sought to determine if military students are…

Many first-generation, African American male students who enroll in primarily White institutions do not persist. This phenomenological study aimed to understand academic persistence in first-generation African American male students enrolled at a four-year, primarily White institution. The theory guiding this study is the theory of human…

The recruitment and retention of Black male teachers continue to be a national effort. While there is a plethora of research on attempts to solve this critical issue of teacher diversity, Black males continue to represent the lowest percentage of teachers within the profession. This study narrows the research on Black male teachers by adding the…