Date of Award

2016

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Education

Abstract

This study investigated the nature of the relationship between the participation in community college co-curricular activities and first-generation community college students academic success, satisfaction, and persistence. The study sought to answer the following research questions: (a) Is there a relationship between participation in co-curricular community college-sponsored activities and first-generation community college students cumulative GPA? (b) Is there a relationship between participation in co-curricular community college-sponsored activities and first-generation college students satisfaction with their college experience? (c) Is there a relationship between participation in co-curricular community college-sponsored activities and first-generation college students persistence? Data were collected from a sample of first-generation students who completed the Community College Survey of Student Engagement at one Midwestern community college in the spring semesters of 2011, 2013, and 2015. The study employed a quantitative correlational research design, utilizing an analysis of variance (ANOVA) analysis and a Pearsons chi-square test of independence. The findings indicated that co-curricular involvement was not statistically significant to first-generation students GPA, college satisfaction, nor college persistence. The suggestions for future research include replicating this study with larger populations of first-generation community college students, implementing qualitative approaches to allow for a substantively deeper understanding of student co-curricular involvement, and exploring the impact of college experiences for different characteristics of first-generation students.

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