Food insecurity is a growing concern among college students. With the rising food and housing costs, more students are going hungry. This narrative inquiry provides a greater understanding of food insecurity's impact on the college-going experience for urban students. Interviews were conducted with five college students who attend a large public urban university in the mid-Atlantic and use the on-campus food pantry. As a result of the narrative inquiry, six themes emerged. They are peer relationships, government assistance, cost of living, access to healthy food, institutional help, and navigating college. As a result of the study, there are several actionable steps that institutions should take. Those steps include increased advertisement, adding toiletries and similar products, and funding positions that work directly with students facing issues like food insecurity.

The researchers explored how the migrant students characterized their experiences in the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) program at a predominately White institution in Georgia and how they developed identity in this qualitative study. Interviews with seven migrant students were transcribed and coded for themes using Baxter Magolda’s theory of self-authorship as the theoretical framework. Participants developed their identities and established self-authorship as migrant students due to the influences and impacts of CAMP and perceived CAMP support as the nexus to their academic success and overcoming barriers. Other themes emerged from the narratives including disruption of frequent moves, cultural differences, inadequate preparation, and the management of college and family obligations. Discussed are the implications for higher education practice and future research.

Colleges and universities are seeing growth in the number of Latinx students actively engaged in fraternity and sorority life. In this study, six Latino participants share their testimonios as members of different Chapters of a Latinx Greek Letter Organization (LGLO) nestled within Predominantly White Institutions in Georgia, USA. Informed by LatCrit theory, this qualitative study uses members' testimonios to shed light on their varied and sometimes politically charged and racist lived experiences. The researchers draw on these experiences to show how the LGLO supported these members' leadership development and their desire and commitment to critical service and socially just causes.

The phenomenon of student movement between higher education institutions has received considerable attention due to its widespread occurrence and impact on academic trajectories. While extensive research has focused on vertical transfer, such as transitions from community colleges to four-year institutions, less scrutiny has been directed towards lateral transfer, involving shifts between institutions at similar academic levels. This study aims to fill this gap by examining the factors influencing lateral transfer, specifically from private four-year colleges to public four-year institutions. The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened interest in this understudied area, with indications of increased lateral transfers in its aftermath. Leveraging data from Fall 2022, this research investigates the reasons for this trend shift and delves into the motivations prompting students to transition from private to public institutions. By shedding light on the dynamics of lateral transfer, particularly amidst post-pandemic enrollment and retention challenges, this study seeks to offer valuable insights for both private and public institutions striving to improve student retention and success.

International students often face challenges while pursuing higher education in a foreign country. These challenges can negatively impact their sense of belonging and community, resulting in social disconnection. Examining the role of culturally competent peer mentoring programs for international students can foster a sense of belonging among international students. Peer mentorship may provide international students with a supportive environment and community, helping them navigate university life. In contrast, student development theory can inform the design of programs and services that support international students in their transition to American higher education. These strategies can create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for international students, promoting their belonging, community, and success.

There is a paucity of research on institutional e-accessibility and transfer-credit-software adoption. This paucity poses a challenge in understanding how these technologies impact college students and professionals. Drawing on connectivism theory and Karp and Fletcher's (2014) and Kezar's (2013) three-way approaches (changing-in-advice, institutions, and students' willingness to use technology tools) investigate how technology product adoption affects students' and transfer admission counselors' experiences during the transfer process. This study, conducted at a public institution in the mid-east Atlantic region, utilized a convergent-parallel mixed-methods design to assess students' and professionals' perceptions of transfer credit evaluation products. Results indicate that an e-transfer system is vital to provide seamless, long-term service to students and transfer advisors. Furthermore, statewide support and a joint system are crucial to maintaining this e-transfer system and increasing information transparency for potential college students.

N/A --- Technology Review

Currently, roughly one third of college students fit the federal government’s definition of first-generation college student status, meaning that neither parent has earned a baccalaureate degree (RTI International, 2023). This study utilized archival data at an access institution in the southeastern United States in a causal comparative study using binary logistic regression analysis to determine if first-generation college student status, gender, socioeconomic status, and academic preparedness are predictors for six-year graduation rates. Findings from this quantitative study determined that gender, socioeconomic status, and academic preparedness were significant predictors for graduation within six years of matriculation at the institution. A future qualitative study may provide context for the student experience and what factors influenced student success. These findings are intended to help administrators understand their student population and implement intervention strategies to increase graduation outcomes.

This narrative qualitative study explored how sorority members negotiated their identities within systems of hegemony with their student communities. Sorority members used women's empowerment discourse to rationalize how they consumed alcohol, engaged in frequent consensual sexual relationships, and navigated relationships with fraternity men and across their campus sorority/fraternity communities. Implications for practice included harm reduction, sex education, and supportive policies.

The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore how mid-level student conduct professionals (SCPs) made meaning of their professional and mid-level leadership experiences during their institutions’ immediate responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study draws on sensemaking as a theoretical lens and literature related to mid-level professionals and student conduct practice to ground its inquiry. Interview data was collected and analyzed from four senior-level student conduct professionals within a single State within the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) accreditation region. Findings center on three key themes voiced by the participants: the importance of maintaining operational processes, feelings of middleness, and reflections on student and personal wellbeing. Discussion and implications for professionals and postsecondary organizations confronting the short- and long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are offered. Here, we highlight the valuable roles student conduct professionals play within postsecondary organizational life and the need for greater attention to these practitioners in both research and practice.