The problem for this study was to examine the relationship between the importance of recruitment and retention efforts offered by a public junior college and an upper level university and the degree to which these services were provided, as perceived by minority students attending these institutions. Specifically, this study attempted to accomplish the following: (1) investigate the efforts on the part of the two institutions in providing equal access to education to minority students and their programs to enhance these students' academic performance; and (2) to describe and analyze the recruitment and retention efforts of the institutions to identify the relevance and effectiveness of these efforts as perceived by selected student participants. A secondary accomplishment was the development and validation of a perceptual device which may be used by other single or paired institutions to secure data necessary for program improvement in higher education for all students. / This research study was descriptive in nature. Elements that should be included in recruitment and retention programs and unique characteristics of high risk minority students were identified from the review of the literature. A questionnaire was developed to obtain additional information from 250 minority students, 125 from each of the public institutions of higher education in Escambia County, Florida. The questionnaire was composed of items relating to personal characteristics of the respondents, and their perceptions of the importance of, and the degree to which services were provided regarding: (1) recruitment procedures, (2) institutional environmental factors, (3) financial assistance, and (4) academic assistance. Of the 250 surveys distributed, 133 or 53.2% were usable for analysis. A second instrument was developed from which to conduct structured interviews with students who had withdrawn from each of the institutions. The van der Waerden test of significance was used to test differences in perceptions of respondents at the .05 level of confidence. The analysis revealed significant differences in two of four areas on the instrument when testing for differences in perceptions between institutions. Significant differences were found to exist in four of the eight areas tested at Pensacola Junior College, and in five of the eight areas tested at the University of West Florida when testing for significance within institutions. / The following major conclusions were drawn from the findings of this study: (1) the assumption that the programs, at both institutions, were somewhat relevant and effective in meeting student needs; (2) only a moderate relationship existed between reasons for enrolling in the institutions and existing recruitment and retention programs; (3) the majority of the students did not feel a sense of belonging as a result of existing retention programs at either institution; (4) the significance of a conducive institutional environment and the importance of finances are recognized as critical elements in retention programs; and (5) human relations factors affect perceptions, and students feel a need for role models in order that they may identify the institution. Two major recommendations emerged from this study: (1) that institutions of higher education open lines of communication with minority students so that their concerns may be heard, respected and acted upon, and (2) that administrative concerns become more visible toward student welfare. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 42-06, Section: A, page: 2550. / Thesis (Educat.D.)--The Florida State University, 1981.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_74497 |
| Contributors | ANDERSON, NEROY., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 170 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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