The Impact of a Social integration Program on Grade Point Average and Retention

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

Department

Educational Leadership

Date of Award

Fall 2012

Abstract

A call for a greater degree of accountability is taking place in higher education and, as a result, a renewed focus on graduation rates. As budgets are critically examined, states ask universities to make changes. Institutions look for and attempt to implement programs that can address deficiencies in retention and grade point average in hopes of improving graduation rates. This study examined the difference in first- to second-year retention rates and grade point averages between students at an East Texas 4-Year University who participated in a transition camp from 2008 to 2010 and those who did not. The camp is designed with the purpose of integrating students socially before they attended the university, and this study will look at the effectiveness of this program. Participants in the study were first-year undergraduates who were enrolled as full-time students at the university between 2008 and 2010. Data were collected from the institution's Registrar, Office of Admissions, and Office of Student Affairs. Participants were grouped based on attendance in the transition camp and were pair-wise matched to nonattendees. The pair-wise matching occurred based on ACT score, sex, and residency. The data were analyzed utilizing quantitative analysis techniques. Descriptive statistics were used to help validate the pair-wise matching and provided an overview of the data. The first research question and hypothesis were analyzed using a chi-square analysis. The second research question and hypothesis were analyzed using an independent-samples t-test and a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). A statistically significant difference was found between students who attended Fresh Camp and those who did not in terms of retention. Students who attended the camp were retained at a slightly higher rate. In terms of grade point average no statistically significant difference was found between students who attended the camp and those who did not.

Advisor

Joyce Scott

Subject Categories

Education | Educational Leadership

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