Student Athlete Retention and Performance in Agriculture: An Analysis of a Mentorship Program

<p>This qualitative research study focuses on the effectiveness of the athletic academic mentoring and advising program at Stephen F. Austin State University and its potential to replicate a similar program in the agriculture program. With emphasis on increasing the effectiveness of the current mentoring program, increasing student retention in agriculture, and improving the transition for high school students going into college, this study utilizes a questionnaire comprised of seven questions to determine how 14 former and current student-athletes that were enrolled in agriculture felt about the mentoring program and agriculture department. Many of the challenges faced by students, such as the high school transition and performing academically could be prevented or reduced if the students have a mentor that has already completed college or are further along in their degree than the students’ they mentor. This study details the positives and negative aspects to the athletic academic mentoring program and the Department of Agriculture based on the results of the questionnaire sent to the student-athletes who were involved in both of them. The mentoring program and suggested implementation of a mentoring program to the agriculture department will improve students’ academic performance, coping strategies, social awareness and retention. The completion of the study proved that former and current student-athletes that were enrolled in agriculture courses, felt that the athletic academic mentoring program helped them transition into college and perform well in many of their courses.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science - Agriculture

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Agriculture

Year dc:date.available

2018

Author dc:creator

• Cates, Nick

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. Joey Bray
• Dr. Rob McDermand
• Dr. John Mehaffey

• Mentoring
• Student-Athlete Mentoring
• Agriculture Retention
• Student-Athlete Retention
• Athletes in Agriculture
• Advising
• Academic Advising
• Agricultural Education

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/182

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarworks.sfasu.edu:etds-1196