The Impact of Wyman’s Teen Leadership Program on College Achievement and Retention

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Postsecondary Education ◽  
Low Income ◽  
First Generation ◽  
Retention Rates ◽  
Leadership Program ◽  
Grade Point ◽  
Teen Leadership ◽  
Postsecondary Access ◽  
The Impact

Low-income, first-generation college students face a host of obstacles on their journeys toward degree completion. Providing effective supports for these students as they navigate their postsecondary experiences is an important determinant of success, the implications of which can be far-reaching. The purpose of the current study discussed in this article was to examine the impact of Wyman’s Teen Leadership Program (TLP) on positive college outcomes for low-income, first-generation students pursuing higher education at Missouri State University (MSU). TLP is a community-based, postsecondary access and success program comprising three developmentally progressive phases that begin when teens are ninth graders and ends after their second year of postsecondary education. During the postsecondary phase of the program, TLP works in close partnership with higher education institutions like MSU to effectively support students through caring relationships and coordinated services. Using a mixed-methods approach, the authors analyzed the college retention rates and grade point averages (GPAs) of 39 TLP participants attending MSU and 82 comparison students with similar background characteristics. Findings revealed statistically higher retention rates and GPAs for TLP participants compared to non-participants. Focus groups were also conducted to better understand the perceptions of TLP participants (n = 15) and TLP staff members (n = 6). Using Schlossberg’s (1989) theory of marginality and mattering as a framework, the authors analyzed focus group responses, from which three overarching themes emerged: relationships, intentional experiences, and self-efficacy. The study findings suggest that postsecondary access and success programs are most effective when their curricula and program experiences are supported by strong and consistent student-adult relationships.

The Multiple Dimensions of Transfer: Examining the Transfer Function in American Higher Education

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 273-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason L. Taylor ◽  
Dimpal Jain
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Transfer Function ◽  
Low Income ◽  
First Generation ◽  
Transfer Policy ◽  
American Higher Education ◽  
Multiple Dimensions ◽  
State Transfer ◽  
Policy Argument ◽  
The Impact

Purpose: This article examines the literature on the transfer function in American higher education, and it reviews three primary dimensions of transfer: (a) the transfer function and pathways, (b) transfer access and experiences, and (c) state transfer policy. Argument: This literature review engages core transfer concepts and we argue that the literature is dominated by the vertical transfer pathway, despite multiple transfer pathways and definitions. The research also suggests that students’ transfer experiences and outcomes are not equal, institutional cultures and policies are not designed to support diverse students, and the inadequate transfer structures and policies need to be reformed to improve transfer outcomes for students of color, low-income students, and first-generation students. Finally, we argue that the nature and distribution of state transfer policies is uneven and the impact of state transfer policies on student outcomes is mixed, so we know little about their efficacy. Conclusion: We conclude the article with a set of priorities for future transfer research that address gaps and limitations of the existing literature.

scholarly journals Outcomes for Black Students in Team-Based Learning Courses

2018 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Macke ◽  
James Canfield ◽  
Karen Tapp ◽  
Vanessa Hunn
Keyword(s):  
Academic Success ◽  
Black Students ◽  
Postsecondary Education ◽  
Academic Outcomes ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
Grade Point ◽  
Course Grades ◽  
White Institutions ◽  
Team Based Learning ◽  
The Impact

Racial inequity in postsecondary education is a significant social problem. Black students’ academic success is often hindered by feelings of isolation, particularly at predominantly White institutions (PWIs). Educators should ensure that their teaching strategies promote a sense of belonging. Team-based learning (TBL) is a small-group pedagogy that is being used at an increasing rate. The extant literature has not yet examined the impact of TBL on Black students. The current study compared the academic outcomes of White and Black students enrolled in TBL courses. In this study of 148 social work students, academic outcomes were operationalized as grade point average (GPA), course grade, and peer evaluation score. Findings indicate that although Black students had comparable GPAs and course grades, they scored significantly lower on peer evaluations. Implications are discussed.

scholarly journals Linked Coding: A Qualitative Investigation of the Impact of a College Transition Program

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Coleman-Tempel ◽  
Meghan Ecker-Lyster
Keyword(s):  
Minority Students ◽  
Low Income ◽  
College Transition ◽  
First Generation ◽  
Underrepresented Students ◽  
Qualitative Evaluation ◽  
Transition Program ◽  
Cultural Mismatch ◽  
College Ready ◽  
The Impact

Limited college knowledge often impacts underrepresented students’ ability to navigate the college setting, creating institutional barriers for these students once arriving on campus. Students who are first-generation, low-income, and/or minority students have been shown to be less “college ready” than their peers. This discrepancy in preparedness can be conceptualized as a cultural mismatch between the student’s background knowledge and the higher education institution's expectations and norms (Lohfink & Paulsen, 2005). This qualitative evaluation provides an in-depth investigation into first-generation, low-income, and minority students’ perceptions and experiences with a yearlong college transition program. The study explores how a college transition program can impact students’ social development.

Do Students of Noncollege-Educated Parents Achieve Less Academically Than Students of College-Educated Parents?

1999 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
pp. 417-421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos P. Zalaquett
Keyword(s):  
Grade Point Average ◽  
Minority Students ◽  
First Generation ◽  
College Experience ◽  
The Other ◽  
Retention Rates ◽  
First Generation Students ◽  
Grade Point ◽  
Retention Characteristics ◽  
College Educated

The ethnicity, grade point average (GPA), and retention characteristics of 202 students whose parents never attended college, 244 students whose parents had some college experience, and 394 students whose parents graduated from college were examined. Analysis showed that a significantly higher percentage of minority students were first-generation students. No significant differences were found between the GPA and retention rates of first-generation students and those of the other two.

Reducing Gaps in First-Year Outcomes Between Hispanic First-Generation College Students and Their Peers: The Role of Accelerated Learning and Financial Aid

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 441-463
Author(s):  
Christian A. Latino ◽  
Gabriela Stegmann ◽  
Justine Radunzel ◽  
Jason D. Way ◽  
Edgar Sanchez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Financial Aid ◽  
First Generation ◽  
First Generation College Students ◽  
Achievement Gaps ◽  
Accelerated Learning ◽  
Retention Rates ◽  
First Year ◽  
Grade Point ◽  
First Generation College

Hispanic students are the most likely out of all racial or ethnic groups to be first-generation college students (FGCS). Hispanic FGCS have been shown to be the least likely to persist out of all racial or ethnic backgrounds. However, there is little literature on this population. To address this, the present study investigated the association of accelerated learning in high school (e.g., Advanced Placement courses and dual enrollment) and financial aid on academic outcomes for Hispanic FGCS and Hispanic non-FGCS at a 4-year postsecondary institution ( n = 2,499). Hispanic FGCS fared worse in first-year grade point average (GPA) and first- to second-year retention than Hispanic non-FGCS. After controlling for academic, nonacademic, and demographic variables, results suggested that accelerated learning reduced achievement gaps in first-year GPA and financial aid reduced achievement gaps in retention rates for Hispanic FGCS. These results suggest that environmental supports (i.e., accelerated learning and financial aid) may be able to improve GPA and retention for Hispanic FGCS.

scholarly journals Widening access to higher education for low-income students: a Brazilian case study (1990s-2016)

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
LEONARDO CIVINELLI TORNEL DA SILVEIRA
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Student Loans ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Access To Higher Education ◽  
Higher Education Access ◽  
Widening Access ◽  
Education Participation ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT This article analyses the widening access policies implemented by Brazil during the 1990s and in 2016. It cites and evaluates the different strategies used by the government, such as student loans, needs-based and race-based quotas. In the context of a highly privatized sector, in which for-profit higher education institutions account for over half of the existing higher education institutions in Brazil, the results display a relative growth in higher education access based on minorities and needs-based communities. However, it also showcases some trends not achieved as originally planned by the government (specially increasing higher education participation in regions other than the south and the southeast) and serves as a point requiring further research to evaluate the influence on the lives of students and graduates. This study uses government and publicly available sources to analyse the impact of this strategy over time.

Doing Time Wisely: The Social and Personal Benefits of Higher Education in Prison

2018 ◽  
Vol 98 (4) ◽  
pp. 490-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jillian Baranger ◽  
Danielle Rousseau ◽  
Mary Ellen Mastrorilli ◽  
James Matesanz
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Postsecondary Education ◽  
Attitudes And Behaviors ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Social ◽  
Women's Prison ◽  
Women's Imprisonment ◽  
Education Effects ◽  
Impact Of Higher Education ◽  
The Impact

Much of the research on postsecondary education effects on incarcerated individuals has focused on men. However, given the increased rates of women’s imprisonment over the past 40 years, scholars should examine the impact of higher education in prison on women. In this qualitative study, the authors assess the social and personal benefits of participating in a college behind bars program delivered in a women’s prison. Data gathered with both program participants and faculty suggest that students in the program experienced a reduction in criminogenic attitudes and behaviors as well as positive changes in self-perception.

Validation and Living Learning Communities: An Evaluation Case Study

2020 ◽  
pp. 152102512097093
Author(s):  
Sophia Gehlhausen Anderson ◽  
Bob Blankenberger
Keyword(s):  
Learning Communities ◽  
Low Income ◽  
First Generation ◽  
Student Assessment ◽  
Evaluation Study ◽  
Matched Pair ◽  
Living Learning Communities ◽  
Validation Score ◽  
The Impact

In this program evaluation study, we analyzed the impact of interpersonal validation and participation in living-learning communities (LLC) on retention and GPA via regression and propensity score matching. The LLCs were designed to improve outcomes for underrepresented, low-income and first-generation students at a Midwestern regional public university. Employing data from the widely used Mid-Year Student Assessment™, we created a validation score. This student validation score was significantly associated with retention in semester three, and third semester and sixth semester GPA. In the matched pair analyses, we found mixed results with significantly improved retention for participants in just one LLC compared to their matched peers, and significantly improved GPA for a combined group of LLC participants.

scholarly journals Mentoring for Inclusion: The Impact of Mentoring on Undergraduate Researchers in the Sciences

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. ar36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Haeger ◽  
Carla Fresquez
Keyword(s):  
Graduation Rates ◽  
Student Development ◽  
First Generation ◽  
Life Sciences ◽  
Underrepresented Students ◽  
Underrepresented Minority ◽  
Research Experiences ◽  
Grade Point ◽  
Student Grades ◽  
The Impact

Increasing inclusion of underrepresented minority and first-generation students in mentored research experiences both increases diversity in the life sciences research community and prepares students for successful careers in these fields. However, analyses of the impact of mentoring approaches on specific student gains are limited. This study addresses the impact of mentoring strategies within research experiences on broadening access to the life sciences by examining both how these experiences impacted student success and how the quality of mentorship affected the development of research and academic skills for a diverse population of students at a public, minority-serving institution. Institutional data on student grades and graduation rates (n = 348) along with postresearch experience surveys (n = 138) found that students mentored in research had significantly higher cumulative grade point averages and similar graduation rates as a matched set of peers. Examination of the relationships between student-reported gains and mentoring strategies demonstrated that socioemotional and culturally relevant mentoring impacted student development during mentored research experiences. Additionally, extended engagement in research yielded significantly higher development of research-related skills and level of independence in research. Recommendations are provided for using mentoring to support traditionally underrepresented students in the sciences.

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