Higher Education Student Population Research Articles

When Filling the Research Gap Is Personal: Autoethnography and New Majority Students

Given pandemic restrictions on learning and research, autoethnography has recently garnered renewed attention as a potential alternative. Drawing on our experiences as instructor and student, we make the case that autoethnography is not only relevant to pandemic-era teaching but could also offer an effective pedagogical tool to critically engage the lived experiences of an increasingly diverse student population in higher education that includes first-generation students and those of other minoritized backgrounds. We specifically outline the kinds of implications autoethnography can have on students at a personal level, in their understanding of research, and in terms of their overall well-being. Additionally, we discuss challenges with the method, provide examples of autoethnographic excerpts, and incorporate examples of learning exercises.

Exploring the implications of university campuses as intercultural spaces through the lens of social justice

The internationalisation of higher education presents an increasingly urgent need to explore how universities can become more welcoming places for all students. Top-down implementation of widening participation and the inclusion of a more diverse and less prepared student population in higher education have led to social and academic exclusion, with systems failing to accommodate this change to support the less prepared intakes. Academic and social/cultural drivers are the key areas for bottom-up implementation of internationalisation strategies to support this influx and change in student profile. However, institutionalised separation of home and international students for academic support and language development provision, and separation of this support from subject disciplines, have increased the obstacles that block inclusive practice. An internationalised campus involves both top-down institutionalised intervention and bottom-up intervention of the academic self, enabling the potential for intercultural construction within and between communities, and promoting agency of the self in connection with others to enact change. Viewing university campuses as intercultural spaces that all students and staff need to navigate and inhabit has implications that this article explores through the lens of social justice and from the bottom-up perspective of language development provision, within the field of English for Academic Purposes, in an arts-based university.

Using Critical Race Theory to Inform a Multi‐Session Information Literacy Workshop Series for First‐Year Students of Color

ABSTRACTThis research investigates individualized information literacy instruction (ILI) for different student populations in higher education and its impact on engagement and student learning outcomes (SLOs), specifically first‐year students of color. The study is designed as a QUAL+quan convergent mixed‐methods study, and utilizes critical race theory as its theoretical framework, as well as a participatory action research approach. It is designed as a multi‐session IL workshop series delivered outside of the traditional classroom, and is comprised of six one‐hour sessions: an initial focus group, four IL sessions focusing on specific aspects of the research process, and semi‐structured interviews. Data collected through discussions, open‐ended worksheets with rubrics, and pre‐ and post‐surveys are analyzed to measure whether the instructional series impacted SLOs, and is significant as it's the first to specifically address the systemic racial achievement gap coupled with a multi‐session IL workshop series, and can serve as a model for other institutions.

Enhancing the online student experience through the application of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to research methods learning and teaching

This paper documents the process and outcomes of redesigning an online research methods module for taught postgraduate students using Universal Design for Learning (UDL). It also explores the effectiveness of UDL-informed design and practice to support the development of social, cognitive and teacher presence as defined under the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework. The paper is based on findings from an online survey with students taking a research methods module as part of their Master of Arts (MA) programme. The findings point to a number of UDL-informed structures and practices that supported students’ engagement on the module. These include (a) accessibility of the online learning resources (b) weekly structure and signposting (c) online peer connection and collaboration and (d) lecturer communication. It was also established that UDL, as applied in the redesign of this module, supported the development of cognitive, teaching and social presence. The conclusion of this paper is that UDL-informed design and practice has the potential to influence online learning in multiple and interdependent ways; in its own right and through its application in developing cognitive, social and teaching presence. The findings highlight the benefits of adopting UDL for wider application, particularly in the context of growing diversity in student populations in higher education.

Use of the main psychoactive drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic among higher education student

Background: The higher education student population has a special risk of use and abuse of psychoactive drugs. Objective: To analyze the use of psychoactive drugs in higher education students and their relationship with the sociodemographic variables and the COVID-19 pandemic onset. Methodology: An analytical, observational, and cross-sectional study was conducted. Data were collected through a questionnaire applied after the first semester of the 2020/2021 school year to 8875 students of the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança from Portugal. A stratified sample of 825 participants for each of the five schools. Results: Alcohol and tobacco are the most used and abused substances due to the practice of binge drinking/smoking. Psychoactive and recreational drugs are less used. Use is affected by sociodemographic variables: gender, age, school, chronic diseases, and parents’ education/occupation. During the pandemic COVID-19, students perceive an increase in use except for alcohol. Conclusion: The use of psychoactive drugs in higher education students is affected by sociodemographic variables and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Level of satisfaction on online teaching method among undergraduate students – A Descriptive Cross-sectional study

Introduction: Formal education is the smooth pathway for learning, or gaining of knowledge, skills and values in a controlled atmosphere with the avowed goal of instructing students. The deadly infectious disease COVID-19 had a significant impact on the global economy and education sector forced many schools and colleges to remain closed temporarily. So, many colleges and universities have begun to offer online courses as a viable alternative to traditional face-to-face instruction. Nearly 30% of students were taking a course online with 21% growth rate for online enrollment of the overall higher education student population. Aim and Objective: The aim of the study is to assess the level of satisfaction on online teaching method among undergraduate students with their selected demographic variables. Methodology: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted with 100 undergraduate students selected by using purposive sampling technique. Satisfaction level was assessed by using self-structured Student’s satisfaction scale. Results: 1(1%) of the student was dissatisfied, 1 (1%) of the student was moderately dissatisfied, 67 (67%) of the students were moderately satisfied and 31 (31%) of the students were satisfied with online method of teaching. The overall mean score on level of satisfaction online teaching method was 74.72 ±11.14. Conclusion: Domains such as teaching strategies, student involvement and learning outcome are critical for educational management to achieve higher levels of satisfaction and performance for online courses among students.

Psychological Responses of Hungarian Students during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

(1) Background: Changes in daily life and academic training has led to uncertainty in the higher education student population during COVID-19. The goal of the study was to examine the impacts of the pandemic on Hungarian students. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted by using self-report questionnaires collected in Google Forms. Eight-hundred-and-twenty-seven students (25.29 ± 8.09) took part anonymously. The respondents rate their overall physical and mental health on a 5-point Likert scale and validated scales were used: Well Being Index (WHO-5); Mindfulness Attention and Awareness Scale (MAAS); and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14). Statistical analyses were performed with IBM SPSS 24.0, results were considered at a significance level p ≤ 0.05. (3) Results: Positive correlation was found between MAAS and WHO-5 (r = 0.363, p < 0.001) negative correlation between MAAS and PSS-14 (r = −0.448, p < 0.001), and negative correlation between WHO-5 and PSS-14 (r = −0.671, p < 0.001). Females had higher PSS-14 mean score (32.51 ± 10.16) than males (27.71 ± 10.19; p < 0.001; Z = −5703), males (60.92 ± 12.10) had higher MAAS level than females (57.31 ± 12.51; p < 0.001; Z = −3589). No difference was found in gender regarding WHO-5 mean scores. Athletes (7.03 ± 3.27) differ significantly from non-athletes (6.00 ± 3.04) in WHO-5 (p < 0.001; Z = −4.349) and MAAS level (p = 0.012; Z = −2.498), but showed no difference in PSS-14 (p = 0.101; Z = −1.641). Students rated mental (3.01 ± 0.99) worse than physical health (3.49 ± 0.98; p < 0.001, r = 0.426) and the narrowing of social relationships worse (3.83 ± 1.26) than physical (p < 0.001, r = −0.212) and mental health (p < 0.001, r = −0.408). Females had worse mental health (2.96 ± 9.94) than males (3.20 ± 0.99; p = 0.003; Z = −2.924) and rated the narrowing of social relationships worse (3.90 ± 1.23) than males (3.59 ± 1.35; p = 0.006; Z = −2.730). (4) Conclusions: The pandemic has negatively impacted students, and it may have long-term consequences on their mental and physical health and education.

Warming Up the Cold Call

Student populations in higher education are more diverse than ever before. Studies of classroom engagement have repeatedly shown that instructors act on implicit biases and that classroom participation is rarely equitable. What can instructors do to support diverse students, specifically with regard to managing classroom engagement and facilitating equitable participation? The practice of cold-calling—calling on a student who has not volunteered to contribute a response—has previously been suggested to support a number of desirable classroom outcomes. However, cold-calling is increasingly recognized to be a potential source of significant student anxiety, particularly for students already experiencing heightened stress due to stereotype threat or other barriers to learning. As such, the solicitation of random and immediate feedback may actually exacerbate inequities rather than ameliorate them as intended. Here, we introduce a novel classroom participation approach that we call the warm call. This engagement method provides students with an advance warning, and the opportunity to opt out of sharing in front of the class. We describe two different approaches—the “in-class warm call” and the “before-class warm call”—which can be utilized by instructors in any level or size of class to support equitable student participation while also respecting student autonomy.

Making a Case for the Inclusion of People with Intellectual Disabilities in Higher Education

The 21st century to this point has seen increased diversity throughout the student population in higher education. Many stakeholders value this diversity as it enhances the overall education experience for all students. While the number of students with disabilities in higher education is rising, challenges and barriers to participation remain, including for people with intellectual disabilities. The intent of this paper is to make a case for the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in higher level education. Following the introduction to the topic, the existing literature on inclusion in higher education is explored, and issues such as challenges to inclusion are discussed. We then explain the situation in the Republic of Ireland, detailing how one university-based programme, the Dublin City University (DCU) Ability project, aims to prepare people with intellectual disabilities to move towards employment. The results of a survey sent to the staff in the University (n = 112), exploring their knowledge and views of the project, is then presented. While the project has been well received by learners and their supporters, it was important to identify the views of University staff to promote the future growth and sustainability of the project. The common themes identified were inclusion and diversity, communication issues, and positioning the project in the University’s Strategic Plan. The results contribute to the case for inclusion as university staff indicate their support while acknowledging challenges. These challenges are primarily in the area of communication but also in ensuring that university goals are implemented to provide a diverse and inclusive university community. We make the case that diversity should be valued, and that universities should be a space for all students, including those with intellectual disabilities, to learn and thrive.

Comparative Analysis of Dropout and Student Permanence in Rural Higher Education

The growing dropout and low permanence of rural students in higher education has become a central problem in the education system, both affecting the quality conditions of training programmes and preventing the materialisation of the benefits that achieving this educational level entails for society. However, the study of these events in rural populations is scarce, resulting in an inadequate treatment of dropout and, consequently, the impossibility of consolidating student permanence. Thus, the aim of this article is to identify which individual, academic, socio-economic, and institutional variables influence the dropout and the retention of the rural student population in higher education. To achieve this purpose, a cross-sectional study was defined. The sample used was a non-probabilistic sample with an n of 269 rural Colombian students who were administered a self-report questionnaire that assessed 59 variables. Data analysis was based on means comparison and cluster modelling. The results show that dropout and permanence in rural students is related to the educational level of the father, family and work obligations, the need to move from their place of residence, the academic average in higher education, satisfaction with the choice of programme, communication with the institution, and the attention of teachers, among other things.

Academic Pathways for Formerly Incarcerated Students: “If I could do 12 years in prison, why can’t I do 12 years in college.”

This qualitative study examined the experiences of formerly incarcerated students in community colleges. In this study, participants described how they made meaning of their postsecondary education experience through their decision to start college, the college preparation, and faculty interactions that collectively influenced their academic pathways. The students of this study were formerly incarcerated Latino men enrolled in California community colleges located in northern, central, and southern regions. This study specifically sought to challenge the stigma that revolves around the experiences of the carceral system leading to a deficit perspective on this student population. The findings from this study aligns with the academic support services for this student population in higher education.

The Digital Divide and Smartphone Reliance for Disadvantaged Students in Higher Education

The digital divide as it pertains to information inequality among disadvantaged student populations in higher education is a pertinent problem, and has been further exacerbated by the increase in online learning due to COVID-19. This study explores Technological Access challenges of students at a small public midwestern university in the US that serves a disproportionately higher number of underserved and underrepresented students. Survey data from 535 undergraduate students indicate that a critical subset (n=61) of the sample who were first generation, low income, and nonwhite had significantly lower levels of Technological Access with respect to access to devices and Internet access, when compared to the larger sample. Additionally, nearly half of the sample used smartphones to access courses online. Educational implications of smartphone dependence among disadvantaged students and the consequent digital divide are discussed. As technology induced online learning proliferates, addressing such gaps will be a step toward mitigating inequities plaguing higher education.

Supporting bereaved students in higher education: student perspectives

ABSTRACT Bereavement is a universal experience common within the higher education student population. The present study aimed to understand the experiences and support needs of bereaved Australian university students. In semi-structured interviews, 12 students (10 women, 2 men; M age = 38.13, SD = 15.37) shared their experiences of bereavement while studying. A thematic analysis resulted in three themes: Relationships between study and bereavement, Navigating the university system, and What students need. The findings highlighted varying levels of support accessed and level of need, which were influenced by the circumstances of the student and the loss, mode of study, personal resources, and perceptions of the university system’s ability to help. The findings highlight the need to develop and communicate clear policies and procedures so that bereaved students are supported.

Türkiye’deki Yetişkin Lisans Öğrencilerinin Katılım Profilleri

In recent years, the profile of the student population in higher education has changed and the number of adult students has begun to increase gradually. Considering this change, the need for a comprehensive examination of adult students having undergraduate education in Turkey has arisen. For this reason, this study has been conducted to determine participation dynamics of adult students who decided to take formal undergraduate education at the age of 25 or older in Turkey. In research, firstly, existing higher education policies and practices for adult students have been investigated. Then, in a research group, participation patterns of adult undergraduate students have been examined. The data used in this study was collected from 472 participants in a study group. Participation characteristics such as the reasons for participation, barriers to participation, program preference reasons of adults were investgated in the context of higher education.

COVID-19 Strikes U.S. Higher Education

International students have contributed to the internationalization and diversification of U.S. higher education; yet, when COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus) struck, it became evident that this subset of the U.S. higher education student population was left unaccounted for and unprotected. This manuscript underscores the unimaginable damage and disruption that can occur when a global crisis of the highest magnitude meets under preparedness, pre-existing discrimination, and impulsive policy-making. It also highlights, for context, past crises and their impacts on international students, thus establishing a trend which places international students at the epicenter of the blow’s concomitant with crises of different nature. Moreover, the manuscript provides considerations higher education stakeholders should reflect upon, as well as the following implications for higher education institutions: a) Establish support systems, b) create a sustainable emergency/crisis relief fund, c) seek and maintain non-local partnerships, d) get in good trouble, and e) develop intervention programs. In enacting these tangible solutions, institutions would be able to guide, serve, and support international students more effectively during and after crises.

Uyghur students in higher education in the USA: trauma and adaptation challenges

ABSTRACT As the U.S. higher education student population continues to change and grow, universities need to be prepared to provide adequate support for their unique needs. Yet research has not kept pace with the growth, or the variety of international student experiences. Additionally, research on at-risk migrant and refugee students in higher education institutes (HEIs) has focused primarily on their access and barriers to it, and not on their experience after they enroll. Understanding these challenges is imperative for personnel working in American HEIs in order to provide a high-quality student experience and retain their international student population. This paper addresses these gaps by exploring the unique challenges of one specific refugee and asylum-seeking community in higher education in the United States, Uyghur university students from mainland China. The challenges these students face are identified through a qualitative study including Uyghur students in HEIs based throughout the United States. The paper shows that this student population faces some unique challenges impacting their university experience, and that higher education personnel tend to have a limited understanding of their needs, making it difficult to serve them adequately.

Cihuātocameh (Spiderwomen) Weaving Twenty Years of Transformative Justice Work in Higher Education

While the student population in higher education has become more ethnically diverse the professoriate in universities remain predominantly of European descent. Reflecting this disparity of representation within the context of higher education in the United States, women faculty of color continue to experience tokenization, among other dissolutions. Within this inequitable context, we continue to find ways to resist these moments of fragmentation. We draw upon an analogy of spider weaving as a way to re-member the fragmented parts of being Women of Color scholar activists in the academy. In this paper, two Xicana Indigenous scholars highlight moments of resistance and transformation in the past 20 years of engagement with higher education. We begin with an undergraduate summer research experience and continue to the present moment as assistant professors. We share the context, our narratives of growth and resilience to unveil effects of the lived realities for Women of Color invested in social transformative justice. We offer a reflective opportunity for those who enter and continue struggling to survive and thrive within academia while navigating the shoals of privilege and marginalization. This awareness can offer a starting point for further discussions focused on the recruitment and retention of Women of Color faculty in the academy.

The Relationship between Faculty Diversity and Student Success in Public Community Colleges

ABSTRACT Community colleges serve the most diverse student populations in higher education yet have some of the lowest levels of faculty diversity in higher education. Retaining community college student cohorts through transfer/graduation is a goal, yet attaining this goal has been elusive, particularly for underrepresented minority (URM) community college students. Few studies have explored the impact of faculty diversity on the successful retention of URM community college students. This study used archival data for 120 public community colleges from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) to calculate a Diversity Score for each college and ranked them by their overall level of faculty racial/ethnic variance to quantify the relationship between faculty diversity and student graduation, transfer, and drop-out rates. The findings suggest that there is a significant strong positive relationship between graduation, transfer, and drop-out rates for URM students of all race/ethnic categories when there are increases in faculty diversity. Exposure to a diverse faculty produces different outcomes in URM students.

Integrative Transfer of Learning Model and Implications for Higher Education

Transfer of knowledge, skills, and experience is critical in an increasingly competitive knowledge-based global economy. Research indicates major issues relating to transfer of learning, including (a) the complex nature of transfer, (b) the multiple variables affecting transfer, and (c) the limited knowledge of instructional methodologies for facilitating transfer across disciplines and learning environments. An integrative literature review was conducted to analyze the conceptualizations of transfer of learning across disciplines, as well as to examine the traditional and contemporary models along with taxonomies of transfer. This article proposes a new Integrative Transfer of Learning (ITL) model that aggregates four broad transfer dimensions, specifically (a) task, (b) personal, (c) context, and (d) pedagogical dimensions. This ITL model provides a comprehensive conceptual framework for researchers, instructors, and instructional designers interested in transfer of learning across learning environments, including online, blended, and onsite, for preparing a diverse higher education student population for a complex and advancing workforce.

Mental Well-Being of University Students in Social Isolation

Abstract. Background: The novel coronavirus disease has caused a worldwide pandemic and has been distressing for the general population including the student population in higher education. Aims: This study assesses the changes in the lives of university students, and finds an association between fear of COVID-19 and mental well-being controlled by demographic and socio-psychological factors. Method: Students from one of the largest universities of Hungary were sampled responding to multidimensional questions about their life situations prior to and after social isolation measures, 4–6 weeks after the COVID-19 outbreak in Hungary. The questionnaire packet included the 8-item version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale for evaluating mental well-being. Results: Students experienced significant negative changes after 4–6 weeks of confinement in terms of physical activity, relationship with family, friends, studies, financial situation, perceived health, future prospects, and life satisfaction. Desirable changes were observed in smoking habits, cannabis use, and alcohol consumption, including binge drinking. Explanatory variables of favorable mental well-being were younger age, better-perceived health status, higher life satisfaction, and more optimism about future prospects. Limitations: Mental well-being was measured only during social isolation. The pre-pandemic status of the students was reported retrospectively, making it prone to recall bias. Conclusion: Findings suggest that the pandemic with its associated social isolation measures negatively affected students’ everyday life and well-being, however, the fear of the coronavirus did not contribute to it. Higher institutions should offer a wide range of measures to mitigate the downstream mental health consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak in university population.