Exploring the Academic and Social Transititon Experiences of Ethnic Minority Graduate Students

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dc.contributor.authorSimpson, Miya T.en
dc.contributor.committeechairHirt, Joan B.en
dc.contributor.committeememberHyer, Patricia B.en
dc.contributor.committeememberBelle, Roberten
dc.contributor.committeememberScott, Delores W.en
dc.contributor.committeememberDixon, Benjaminen
dc.contributor.departmentEducational Leadership and Policy Studiesen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T20:19:59Zen
dc.date.adate2003-12-11en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T20:19:59Zen
dc.date.issued2003-12-03en
dc.date.rdate2003-12-11en
dc.date.sdate2003-12-08en
dc.description.abstractDespite gains made in the educational attainment of ethnic minorities, members of these groups remain underrepresented in higher education. Fewer numbers of minorities at the undergraduate level translates into fewer minority students eligible to pursue graduate and professional degrees. As such, institutions of higher education have begun to recognize the importance of not only ensuring that minority students earn bachelor's degrees, but that they are prepared for success in graduate school. Graduate school preparation programs (GSPPs) were created to improve access, retention, and graduation rates among groups underrepresented in higher education, and prepare them for transition to graduate study. To date, however little research has been conducted to see if GSPPs actually assist minority students in making that transition. This study explored the academic and social transition experiences of minority students to graduate school and analyzed the differences in transition by race (Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian/Alaskan Native), type of GSPP experience (no program, research-only program, graduate/professional school seminars only, holistic program), and duration of experience (less than six weeks during summer, 7-12 weeks during summer, summer and academic year). The study employed a national sample of 621 ethnic minority graduate students at nine research extensive universities. Data were collected using the Minority Graduate Student Experiences Survey (MGSES), a 77-item instrument specifically designed for this study. Items for the survey were developed utilizing existing literature on the academic and social integration experiences of graduate students. Overall, ethnic minority graduate students reported favorable academic and social experiences but appear to be more satisfied with their academic experiences than their social experiences. No significant differences were found by race on any of the subscales on the Academic Experiences (AE) scale, however, differences did emerge between Black/African American graduate students and Hispanic/Latino graduate students on one subscale of the Social Experiences (SE) scale. Significant differences were also found by program type and program duration on the AE and SE subscales. Finally, results indicated differences between those who reported no program involvement and those who had been involved in a program of some type on the both the AE and SE scales.en
dc.description.degreePh. D.en
dc.identifier.otheretd-12082003-155510en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-12082003-155510/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/29992en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartSimpson.CV.pdfen
dc.relation.haspartBodyMatter1.pdfen
dc.relation.haspartAbstract&TOC.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectGraduate School Experiencesen
dc.subjectSocial Integrationen
dc.subjectAcademic Integrationen
dc.subjectSocial Transitionen
dc.subjectMinority Graduate Studentsen
dc.subjectAcademic Transitionen
dc.titleExploring the Academic and Social Transititon Experiences of Ethnic Minority Graduate Studentsen
dc.typeDissertationen
thesis.degree.disciplineEducational Leadership and Policy Studiesen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.namePh. D.en

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