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As college and university continue to recruit and enroll more diverse student populations and maintain institutional priorities of diversity and inclusion, it is imperative we understand the distinct experiences of our minority populations. This research will specifically focus on the experiences of Black undergraduate females. To ensure the success of our Black females students, it is imperative we understand their need for a sense of belonging on a predominantly White campus in order to achieve higher-level opportunities of classroom and campus success. Sense of belonging is defined as the ability to connect, feel validated, accepted, and matter. This understanding is key to Black undergraduate females’ ability to successfully integrate academically and socially in their college environment. Existing research provides insight into the Black male experience, not limited to the challenges Black males face, as well as variables needed to enable Black males’ educational success. However, there is a general lack of awareness and attention to the nuanced experiences of our Black female students on predominantly White campuses. What challenges do Black females face and what factors can enable their educational success? This missed opportunity of understanding of their experiences limits faculty, staff, and administrators from creating an environment where Black females can succeed both inside and outside the classroom. This research gives voice to the experiences of this seemingly silent minority and challenges campus environments to address their operating norm of campus rituals and culture. The purpose of this qualitative study is to examine the experiences of nine Black undergraduate females at one predominantly White urban institution located in the North East. Through the use semi-structured interviews, this study seeks to understand in what ways Black female students’ understanding of self, relationship development, and engagement with their campus environment aids in the creation of their sense of belonging to their institution. Findings from this study demonstrate key components of belonging are rooted in understanding of self, and self in relation to others; the impact of participating in institutional programs; and the ability to navigate rules of engagement, both in the classroom and social environments. Participants demonstrate varying levels of belonging but provide key insight for higher education administrators to reflect upon their institutional programs, services, and opportunities to provide intentional space and place of support and ultimately find a place where they matter; their place of belonging. / Educational Leadership

Utilizing a participatory action paradigm, this study guided advising administrators in the exploration of perceptions and practices pertaining to underrepresented undergraduate students’ persistence and success at elite liberal arts colleges. The study was conducted in Fall 2023 and consisted of participant recruitment through individual emails and a virtual interest survey, two and half hour learning and reflection sessions, and individual semi-structured interviews with seven self-selected advising administrators in the Consortium on Financing Education. Data were analyzed and coded through deductive and inductive processes. Findings align with and expand upon current research, with three themes identified. Advising administrators perceived barriers to graduation for underrepresented students, specifically interpersonal and intrapersonal barriers between and within staff and faculty and structural barriers that exist within institutions. Participants also perceived their positionality as guides, relationship builders, and advocates. Findings also suggest the impact of participatory action research due to validation and learning and empowered action for participants following the sessions. This study fulfilled a current gap in the literature as research pertaining to academic advising in higher education and underrepresented student experiences has not previously integrated advising practitioners in the research and change processes. It also furthered research understanding the work of advising administrators at elite institutions. / Policy, Organizational and Leadership Studies

<p> Housing professionals are increasingly compelled to consider hiring resident assistants (RAs) from a pool of applicants that includes students with less college experience than has traditionally been expected. The purpose of the study is to determine if the success of first-time sophomore RAs differs from that of first-time upper-class RAs according to performance evaluations by their supervisors. Performance evaluations of first-time resident assistants were compared to determine if any performance evaluation criteria predicted the sophomore or non-sophomore class standing of RAs post hoc. Performance evaluation data for first-time RAs were gathered from universities in the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. The reported performance criteria were relationships with residents, relationships with staff, residential community development, programming, and administration. The data were analyzed using binary logistic regression. Performance criteria did not predict an RA&rsquo;s class standing. Supervisors of first-time resident assistants evaluated the performance of sophomore resident assistants substantially the same as their upper-class counterparts. This result will give housing professionals more confidence in selecting students to serve as resident assistants regardless of their class standing.</p>

<p> Higher education institution performance has been brought to the forefront of the public policy arena by the spread of performance funding, the articulation of the Completion Agenda, and Congressional hearings on higher education. Debate over which entities should be responsible for monitoring the performance of higher education institutions as well as which measures are to be used has intensified. Currently, this oversight falls to institutional accrediting agencies that require institutions to meet established criteria, including the development of a culture of evidence and the pursuit of institutional effectiveness. To achieve and maintain accreditation, institutions must provide evidence demonstrating their adoption of a continuous improvement process. </p><p> Higher education institutions have a variety of continuous improvement frameworks from which to choose to improve quality and effectiveness in their processes and ultimately, their outcomes. There is; however, little research to identify how a framework might relate to organizational effectiveness performance. Accreditation provides a unique framework to higher education. The Higher Learning Commission-North Central Association (HLC), a regional accrediting agency, has created the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP), an integrated approach to developing a culture of continuous improvement and supplying institutional accountability information. </p><p> This study investigated the relationship between higher education institutions&rsquo; continuous improvement planning processes and institutional performance measures of graduation, transfer out and first year retention rates for AQIP participating institutions, using a correlational explanatory research design and publicly available secondary data sets. The target population for this study consisted of US higher education institutions utilizing continuous improvement frameworks or similar professional standards. The sample selected was a purposeful convenience sample consisting of all 186 institutions currently participating in the AQIP accreditation process in the Higher Learning Commission region. The AQIP Systems Appraisal Reports were analyzed and the continuous improvement planning evaluations aggregated to develop independent variables. </p><p> The dependent variables of graduation, transfer out and first year retention were selected to represent organizational effectiveness measures. Graduation, transfer out and retention rate data are collected annually as part of the IPEDS survey. Findings showed that institutional characteristics such as sector, size and location had a greater impact on organizational effectiveness measures than continuous improvement practices. In addition, this study explored a unique approach to inter-rater reliability with respect to team generated documents.</p>

<p> A single case study design was used to explore the affiliation need of career college adjuncts and their lived experiences and the influence that their working conditions have on their professional growth, motivation, commitment, sense of loyalty, and connectivity to the institutions they serve involving student achievement and retention. Constructivist theory was the theoretical framework selected for the study based on the concept that individuals construct knowledge and understand more effectively based on reflections of their personal experiences. The aim of the study was to develop a thorough knowledge of the psychological influence of the working conditions of adjuncts regarding their affiliation and connection with the institutions for which they teach. Additionally, the study included an exploration of the types of professional support programs or activities perceived by adjuncts to be beneficial for their needs for affiliation and teaching performance within their institutions. A qualitative method was used, with nine participants in a single case study, and one focus group. The findings showed that regardless of the lack of fellowship, interaction, and participation in professional development activities, adjuncts are still loyal to their students and motivated to teach and change lives. The participants acknowledged their need to be affiliated with their institutions, and strategies to increase their senses of loyalty, commitments, and motivations. </p>

<p> The California State University (CSU) system is the largest public university system in United Sates. In 2014, female student population was 56% and 42% were male. Overall, there are higher percentage of female students than male students in the CSU system, yet there are only 10 female Provosts in the CSU system. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore and describe the career journeys of women Provosts in the CSU system in order to learn more about: (a) what factors have motivated these women to executive leadership roles in the CSU system, (b) their career pathways, (c) any obstacles they may have encountered and addressed on their career pathways, and, (d) any mentoring support they may have received on their career pathways. This study described the career journeys of seven female CSU Provosts. </p><p> This study was a qualitative portraiture design. Interviews consisting of 16 questions were conducted in person or over the phone. Nine themes emerged from the analysis of the interview. The themes were prior leadership experience, the mission of the CSU system, traditional and non-traditional career pathways, being female, balancing family and career, gender-based obstacles, formal and informal mentoring, and lastly female mentoring. </p><p> This study had four conclusions. First, CSU women Provosts concluded that the CSU mission and vision motivated women to their current role and the connection to the system. Second, the CSU system supports both traditional and non-traditional pathways to the Provost position. Third, like other women leaders, CSU Provost continue to face challenges in their executive career pathways. The main conclusion for the challenges was balancing family and career, in addition to gender-based obstacles. Finally, the study concluded that women CSU Provosts had role models and different styles of mentorship throughout their education and career pathway towards leadership roles.</p>