The impact of exposure to Early College students on community college student academic and social integration
- WCU Author/Contributor (non-WCU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Catherine Fairley Pollock (Creator)
- Institution
- Western Carolina University (WCU )
- Web Site: http://library.wcu.edu/
- Advisor
- Meagan Karvonen
Abstract: Over the past decade, the nation has seen an increase in high school dropout rates as well
as an increased need for a more skilled workforce. The Early College movement in North
Carolina was a collaboration between public schools and colleges designed to address
these needs. The program immersed child learners beginning in the 9th grade in classes
and on campus with college students, many of whom were adult students (25 or older).
Research and theory indicate there are significant differences between child and adult
learners. These theories and research, along with intergroup contact theory and theories
on student retention, provide a framework for the premise that the introduction of child
learners into the predominantly adult population of the community college could have an
effect on its student population. The purpose of this study was to determine if a
relationship existed between exposure to Early College students and the academic and
social integration of community college students. The research questions were
concentrated in four main areas: college student exposure to Early College students,
college student academic and social integration, the relationship between exposure and
integration, and the relationship between the degree of exposure and integration. North
Carolina community college campuses (N = 4) were chosen for the study based on the
proportion of Early College students in overall enrollment on campus and in the
classroom. Participants (N = 258) completed two surveys, one designed to measure
academic and social integration (Institutional Integration Scales, Pascarella & Terenzini,
1980), and the other a researcher-designed instrument to measure exposure to Early
College students (Early College Student Behavior). The data collected for the exposure
variable revealed that the quantity (number of listed interactions) of exposure was not
related to integration but the quality of exposure (perceptions about classroom and
campus behavior ratings) was related to integration. Additionally, the degree of exposure
(the proportion of Early College students in class and on campus) had an impact on
integration. Evaluation of the data collected on the relationship between the quantity of
academic exposure and academic integration (rs = -.088, p = .16) and between the
quantity of social exposure and social integration (rs = .101, p = .10) did not produce
significant results. However, a moderate, positive correlation (r = .464, p < .001, r² = .22)
was found between the quality of exposure to Early College students and academic
integration, and between the quality of social exposure and social integration (r = .313, p
< .001, r² = .10). In addition, the degree of class exposure (defined by the proportion of
Early College students enrolled) had a significant impact on academic integration scores,
F(1,254) = 49.38, p < .001; ?² = 0.16, and the degree of campus exposure had a
significant impact on social integration scores, F(1,254) = 42.82, p < .001; ?² = 0.14.
Overall, the results indicate further research is warranted and that measures to improve
the successful integration of Early College students with college students can only be
accomplished through creative collaborative efforts between both institutions.
The impact of exposure to Early College students on community college student academic and social integration
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Created on 9/1/2009
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Dissertation
- Language: English
- Date: 2009
- Keywords
- Academic Integration, Adult Learning, Community College, Early College, Intergroup Contact Theory, Social Integration
- Subjects
- College-school cooperation -- North Carolina
- Early College High School Initiative (Program)
- Student adjustment -- North Carolina
- Community college students -- North Carolina