An Examination of the Factors that Contribute to Undergraduate Persistence and Graduate Degree Aspirations for First-generation College Students Attending Elite Universities

An Examination of the Factors that Contribute to Undergraduate Persistence and Graduate Degree Aspirations for First-generation College Students Attending Elite Universities PDF Author: Grazziella Michele Pagliarulo McCarron
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Factors that Relate to the Persistence of First-generation Undergraduate Students in a Public University

Factors that Relate to the Persistence of First-generation Undergraduate Students in a Public University PDF Author: Shoba Anne Thachil
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Achievement in education
Languages : en
Pages : 266

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This study examined factors that relate to the persistence of first-generation undergraduate students in a 4-year public university in the Southeastern United States. Results were analyzed from a 2011 two-part survey: CARES-I (College Assessment of Readiness for Entering Students-Intent) and CARES-A (College Assessment of Readiness for Entering Students-Actual/Achieved. Semistructured interviews were conducted with first-generation undergraduate persisters, administrators, and professors. There was no statistically significant difference in persistence between continuing-generation and first-generation students. None of the factors, with the exception of performance goals on CARES A, were found to relate to persistence. Significant positive correlations were found between persistence and residential status, a learning strategies course, gender, high school GPA, and first semester in college GPA. The learning communities program was not found to significantly relate to persistence. The CARES surveys were found to be weak for predicting persistence. There was no significant interaction between any of the factors, persistence, and first-generation and continuing-generation, except for performance goals on CARES I and self-efficacy on CARES A. Findings from the interviews indicated that self-efficacy was highly important to graduation. The students had clear academic and professional, learning, monetary, and social outcome expectations. Student performance goals varied in amount of time, use of learning strategies, and organizational tools. Of the organizational variables, academic and social integration positively impacted persistence. However, the participants wished to have had higher grades as freshmen, found the STEM courses tough, had no informal interaction with administrators or professors, and did not use office hours enough. Students spoke positively of institutional programs, clubs, services, and organizations such as Supplemental Instruction (SI), the Math Lab, and Writing Center. Administrators and professors expressed a need for more information and responsiveness to persistence factors. Persistence was not impeded by family, friends, or work, whereas financial issues were prevalent. Although demographic variables did not negatively impact persistence, exo and macrosystem factors beyond the doors of the university emerged. Recommendations and options are provided for further research and for the university to improve persistence.

First-generation Students

First-generation Students PDF Author: Anne-Marie Nuñez
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
ISBN: 142892728X
Category : College attendance
Languages : en
Pages : 100

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The Power of Privilege

The Power of Privilege PDF Author: Joseph A. Soares
Publisher: Stanford University Press
ISBN: 9780804756389
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 260

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Book Description
An examination of why acceptance into America's most prestigious colleges remains beyond the reach of most students except those from high-income professional families.

The Latino Education Crisis

The Latino Education Crisis PDF Author: Patricia C. Gandara
Publisher:
ISBN: 0674047052
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 428

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Book Description
Drawing on both extensive demographic data and compelling case studies, this book reveals the depths of the educational crisis looming for Latino students, the nation's largest and most rapidly growing minority group.

Purposeful Persistence

Purposeful Persistence PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Undergraduate populations at colleges and universities have become increasingly diverse in recent years, and one of the greatest shifts has been the steadily increasing numbers of first generation college students (FGCS), students whose parents did not attend college. Studies of FGCS have concluded that retention is less likely for FGCS than continuing generation college students (CGCS). According to the literature, FGCS are more likely to be academically under prepared, come from low income and minority backgrounds, and be less engaged in the college experience than CGCS. In exercising this attention, many colleges and universities have developed retention strategies focusing on characteristics of FGCS that might put them at risk for not completing a degree. Initially, these contrasts between FGCS and CGCS were regarded widely as deficits of the first-generation population. In recent years, however, some institutions of higher education have shifted in their approach from an "individual deficit model" focused on the shortcomings of individual students to a deeper understanding of how institutional conditions encourage or discourage students from staying in school. This evolving emphasis includes a shift in responsibility for students' college going success -- from the individual to the institution. These contrasting and evolving ideas present a complex but incomplete picture of how colleges work or do not work for first-generation college students. This study explored the characteristics and perspectives of FGCS and the institutional conditions, policies and practices affecting first year persistence at a low persisting rural four-year university. I examined three broad questions: What are the critical characteristics of FGCS who persist past their first year at the University? What implications do these characteristics have for retaining FGCS beyond the first year of college at the institution? What implications do these attributes hold for other colleges and universities seeking to retain FGCS? Confounding results were found after analyzing demographic and academic data on FGCS; although similar to other FGCS in terms of at-risk characteristics, they were out-persisting and performing their CGCS peers. In order to understand this counterintuitive finding, institutional policies and practices were explored, and focus groups were conducted investigating the perceptions of FGCS towards college persistence. The findings suggest that the restricted focus on external attributes of students fall short in explaining FGCS persistence. This study illustrates that institutions of higher education can better support first generation college students if they make available the freedom for individuals to develop naturally, learn through experience, and engage in the formation of their purpose (based on Dewey's 1938 work). It is up to leaders in institutions of higher education and researchers to extend the focus and support beyond external attributes of first generation students and include a focus on internal characteristics, providing a more complete picture of how colleges work or do not work for them.

Retention, Persistence, and Writing Programs

Retention, Persistence, and Writing Programs PDF Author: Todd Ruecker
Publisher: University Press of Colorado
ISBN: 1607326027
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 287

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Book Description
From scholars working in a variety of institutional and geographic contexts and with a wide range of student populations, Retention, Persistence, and Writing Programs offers perspectives on how writing programs can support or hinder students’ transitions to college. The contributors present individual and program case studies, student surveys, a wealth of institutional retention data, and critical policy analysis. Rates of student retention in higher education are a widely acknowledged problem: although approximately 66 percent of high school graduates begin college, of those who attend public four-year institutions, only about 80 percent return the following year, with 58 percent graduating within six years. At public two-year institutions, only 60 percent of students return, and fewer than a third graduate within three years. Less commonly known is the crucial effect of writing courses on these statistics. First-year writing is a course that virtually all students have to take; thus, writing programs are well-positioned to contribute to larger institutional conversations regarding retention and persistence and should offer themselves as much-needed sites for advocacy, research, and curricular innovation. Retention, Persistence, and Writing Programs is a timely resource for writing program administrators as well as for new writing teachers, advisors, administrators, and state boards of education. Contributors: Matthew Bridgewater, ​Cristine Busser, Beth Buyserie, Polina Chemishanova, ​Michael Day, ​Bruce Feinstein, ​Patricia Freitag Ericsson, ​Nathan Garrett, ​Joanne Baird Giordano, ​Tawanda Gipson, ​Sarah E. Harris, Mark Hartlaub, ​Holly Hassel, ​Jennifer Heinert, ​Ashley J. Holmes, ​Rita Malenczyk, ​Christopher P. Parker, ​Cassandra Phillips, ​Anna Plemons, ​Pegeen Reichert Powell, ​Marc Scott, Robin Snead, ​Sarah Elizabeth Snyder, ​Sara Webb-Sunderhaus, ​Susan Wolff Murphy

Resources in Education

Resources in Education PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 764

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An Examination of Factors that Impact Persistence Among Adult Students in a Degree Completion Program at a Four-year University

An Examination of Factors that Impact Persistence Among Adult Students in a Degree Completion Program at a Four-year University PDF Author: Mathew J. Bergman
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Academic achievement
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
For more than 100 years, nearly half of all undergraduate students have failed to persist to degree completion (ACT, 2010; Tinto, 1993; U.S. Department of Education, 2008). To make matters worse, adult students have consistently been victims of higher levels of attrition than their traditional student counterparts (Justice & Dornan, 2001; National Adult Attitudes Report, 2008). This study utilized the theoretical underpinnings from the Bean and Metzner (1985) Conceptual Model of Nontraditional Undergraduate Student Attrition and Braxton, Hirschy, and McClendon's (2004) Theory of Student Departure in Commuter College and Universities model to create a new model to examine variables that impact persistence among adult students over the age of twenty-five in a degree-completion program at the bachelor's level. An internet-based self-report survey was constructed to measure variables from three constructs including student entry variables, internal campus/academic variables, and external environment variables. The sample came from the Bachelor of Science in Workforce Leadership program at the University of Louisville which includes adults ranging from ages 25-67. Hypotheses were tested through correlational and logistic regression analytic procedures. Educational goal, finances, and active learning were all significant predictors of persistence, controlling for all other variables in the equation and accounted for 35.4% of the variance among all variables. Students who reported higher educational goals, sufficient finances to pay for school, and content relevant active learning were more likely to persist. Implications for theory, research, and practice are highlighted as possible strategic leverage points for creating policies and procedures that will aid in adult student retention in degree completion programs at four-year universities.

First-Generation Professionals in Higher Education

First-Generation Professionals in Higher Education PDF Author: Mary Blanchard Wallace
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781948213363
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
First-generation Professionals in Higher Education: Strategies for the World of Work explores complexities related to the transition from college/professional school to the work world of higher education, as well as the advancement from mid- to senior-level leadership, and how first-generation professionals navigate these transitions. Framing their chapters in the asset-based lens of cultural capital, the authors approach topics of navigating the field of higher education as first-generation professionals through personal experience as well as evidence-based approaches and strategies. Organized in three sections--Professional Identity, Purposeful Interaction, and Career Path--the book examines concepts such as imposter syndrome, politics, financial literacy, resilience, networking, mentoring, career progression, and more. Each chapter includes activities, exercises, and questions for reflection, offering readers an opportunity to discern strategies for their own professional development.