Investigating Academic and Psychosocial Outcomes of First-Generation African American Postsecondary Students who completed Early College Access Programming:  A Qualitative Case Study

dc.contributor.authorWitcher, Angelica W.en
dc.contributor.committeechairMullen, Carol Annen
dc.contributor.committeememberSanders, Karen Eleyen
dc.contributor.committeememberGlenn, William Josephen
dc.contributor.committeememberMutcheson, Brocken
dc.contributor.departmentCounselor Educationen
dc.date.accessioned2020-12-18T09:00:32Zen
dc.date.available2020-12-18T09:00:32Zen
dc.date.issued2020-12-17en
dc.description.abstractThis qualitative bounded case study examines both the benefits and challenges faced by first-generation African American students who have completed early college access programming (ECAP). Not all children have equal access to higher education, therefore educators have been trying to bridge the gap in education for years. Due to socio-economic challenges in society, there has been a colossal increase in the need for diversity and inclusion within postsecondary institutions. Students from various ethnicities and backgrounds bring different experiences to education and the education learned through those various experiences are valuable. Inequalities in college access experienced by first-generation African American students is the lens for this study. This study addresses the effectiveness of early college access and its effects on first-generation African American students' postsecondary academic and psychosocial outcomes. Driven by critical race theory, this study analyzed student perceptions of their participation in ECAP and whether it supported their academic achievement in college. The study consisted of 10 interviews with Achievable Dream alumni enrolled in six universities across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Results were analyzed using inductive coding to identify components that affect academic achievement. Findings suggest that participation in early college access programming established an educational foundation which led to positive outcomes in academic achievement throughout postsecondary education. In addition to positive outcomes, barriers to achieving academic success were also identified.en
dc.description.abstractgeneralThis case study examines both the benefits and challenges faced by first-generation African American students who have completed early college access programming (ECAP). Not all children have equal access to higher education, therefore educators have been trying to bridge the gap in education for years. Due to socio-economic challenges in society, there has been a huge increase in the need for diversity and inclusion within colleges and universities. Students from various ethnicities and backgrounds bring different experiences to education and the education learned through those various experiences are valuable. Inequalities in college access experienced by first-generation African American students is the lens for this study. This study addresses how early college access effects academic achievement of first-generation African American students while in college. This study analyzed student perceptions of their participation in ECAP and whether it supported their academic achievement in college. The study consisted of 10 interviews with Achievable Dream alumni enrolled in six universities across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Findings suggest that participation in early college access programming established an educational foundation which led to positive outcomes in academic achievement throughout college. In addition to positive outcomes, barriers to achieving academic success were also identified.en
dc.description.degreeDoctor of Philosophyen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.othervt_gsexam:28577en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/101530en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectcollege accessen
dc.subjectacademic achievementen
dc.subjectbridging the gapen
dc.subjectcritical race theoryen
dc.subjectminorityen
dc.subjectfirst-generationen
dc.subjectAfrican Americanen
dc.subjectunderrepresenteden
dc.titleInvestigating Academic and Psychosocial Outcomes of First-Generation African American Postsecondary Students who completed Early College Access Programming:  A Qualitative Case Studyen
dc.typeDissertationen
thesis.degree.disciplineEducational Leadership and Policy Studiesen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophyen

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Witcher_AW_D_2020.pdf
Size:
1.85 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format