Creating the conditions that foster student success in college hasnever been more important. As many as four-fifths of high schoolgraduates need some form of postsecondary education to beeconomically self-sufficient and manage the increasingly complexsocial, political, and cultural issues of the 21st century. Butabout 40 percent of those who start college fail to earn a degreewithin 6 or 8 years, an unacceptably low number. This report examines the complicated array of social, economic,cultural and educational factors related to student success incollege, defined as academic achievement, engagement ineducationally purposeful activities, satisfaction, acquisition ofdesired knowledge, skills and competencies, persistence, andattainment of educational objectives. Although the trajectory for academic success in college isestablished long before students matriculate, most institutions cando more than they are at present to shape how students prepared forcollege and they they engage in productive activities after theyarrive. This is the 5th issue of the 32nd volume of the Jossey-Bassseries ASHE Higher Education Report. Each monographis the definitive analysis of a tough higher education problem,based on thorough research of pertinent literature andinstitutional experiences. Topics are identified by a nationalsurvey. Noted practitioners and scholars are then commissioned towrite the reports, with experts providing critical reviews of eachmanuscript before publication.
Autorentext
George D. Kuh is Chancellor's Professor of Higher Education at Indiana University, Bloomington, where he directs the Center for Postsecondary Research, home to the National Survey of Student Engagement.
Jillian Kinzie is associate director of the NSSE Institute for Effective Educational Practice and the Indiana University Center for Postsecondary Research.
Brian K. Bridges is associate director for the Center for Advancement of Racial and Ethnic Equity at the American Council on Education.
John C. Hayek is associate vice president for planning and performance for the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education.
Zusammenfassung
Creating the conditions that foster student success in college has never been more important. As many as four-fifths of high school graduates need some form of postsecondary education to be economically self-sufficient and manage the increasingly complex social, political, and cultural issues of the 21st century. But about 40 percent of those who start college fail to earn a degree within 6 or 8 years, an unacceptably low number.
This report examines the complicated array of social, economic, cultural and educational factors related to student success in college, defined as academic achievement, engagement in educationally purposeful activities, satisfaction, acquisition of desired knowledge, skills and competencies, persistence, and attainment of educational objectives.
Although the trajectory for academic success in college is established long before students matriculate, most institutions can do more than they are at present to shape how students prepared for college and they they engage in productive activities after they arrive.
This is the 5th issue of the 32nd volume of the Jossey-Bass series ASHE Higher Education Report. Each monograph is the definitive analysis of a tough higher education problem, based on thorough research of pertinent literature and institutional experiences. Topics are identified by a national survey. Noted practitioners and scholars are then commissioned to write the reports, with experts providing critical reviews of each manuscript before publication.
Inhalt
Executive Summary vii
Foreword xiii
Introduction, Context, and Overview 1
Definitions and Conceptual Framework 7
Major Theoretical Perspectives on Student Success in College 13
Sociological Perspectives 13
Organizational Perspectives 15
Psychological Perspectives 16
Cultural Perspectives 17
Economic Perspectives 19
Summary 19
The Foundation for Student Success: Student Background Characteristics, Precollege Experiences, and Enrollment Patterns 21
Student Demographics 21
Family and Peer Support 29
Academic Preparation and Motivation to Learn 34
Enrollment Choices and Patterns 39
Summary 42
Student Behaviors, Activities, and Experiences Associated with Student Success 43
College Activities 45
A Closer Look at Engagement in Effective Educational Practices 54
Student Characteristics 61
Summary 66
Notes 66
Institutional Conditions Associated with Student Success 69
Structural and Organizational Characteristics 71
Programs and Practices 79
Summary 102
Propositions and Recommendations for Student Success in Postsecondary Education 105
Propositions and Recommendations 106
Needed Research 123
A Final Word 130
Appendix A: Note on Research Methods 131
Appendix B: Indicators of Student Success in Postsecondary Education 133
References 135
Name Index 169
Subject Index 176
About the Authors 181