Thesis (Ph.D.)--Mississippi State University. Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Special Education. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis advisor: Rebecca Schendel / The number of international students has risen in the United States for the past twenty years. In order to better understand the role of this population in the U.S. higher education system, many studies have explored the cultural integration of international students, seeking to establish a comprehensive understanding of this commonly identified issue. However, integration difficulties remain integral to many international students’ college life in the U.S. and impact both their in-college experience as well as their post-graduation transitions. Previous studies of international students’ experience in the U.S. context have rarely focused on the endpoint of international students' learning process at college, which encompasses the graduation and post-graduation period. The significant and probably influential outcomes of the long journey international students went through in American Higher Education Institutions have been largely neglected, especially for the international population who attended mission-driven institutions whose educational purpose and focus are individual formation. Therefore, this study used college student development theories and a specific college influential model to understand the potential influence that a mission based American institution has exerted upon international students' perspectives and values and individual future planning. The study surveyed 27 international students and interviewed 11 international students at Boston College with the aim of gaining a solid understanding of the graduating international students’ college experience in an effort to validate and interpret their development during college life. The study result indicates that most participants have developed a better understanding of themselves. This consolidated self-perception has become a basis in forming their future plans and facilitating their decision-making after graduation. However, the relationship between institutional influence and individual changes are difficult to determine due to lack of persuasive evidence. / Thesis (MA) — Boston College, 2020. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Educational Leadership and Higher Education.

The aim of this study is to examine the impact of diversity on student engagement and academic success within a university setting. Understanding the impact of diversity at postsecondary institutions is important because the population of the United States is becoming increasingly diverse, a trend that is also reflected in educational institutions. Previous research has largely focused on diversity among the study body (i.e. admissions) and in the classroom (i.e. curriculum). However, the current study focuses on student experiences with diversity outside of the classroom. Student interactions with peers from diverse backgrounds were measured using the Experiences With Diversity Index (EWDI) subscale of the College Student Experiences Questionnaire (CSEQ). An ANOVA was conducted to compare group differences on experiences with diversity based on gender, race/ethnicity, and generational status. The results found Hispanic college students reported more frequent experiences with diversity than did their Black or White peers. A moderated regression was conducted to examine the relationship between experiences with diversity and academic success (GPA). The results found no significant relationship between diversity experiences and GPA, regardless of gender, race/ethnicity, or generational status. Recommendations for future practice and research are discussed.