Enhancing Access and Success of Underserved Students in Dual Enrollment Programs

<p>This study examines dual enrollment activities and their impact with a focus on equitable recruitment, persistence, and targeted success mechanisms for Black students and students from low-income families. The lived experiences of four former students from diverse racial and socio-economic backgrounds, and the perspectives of ten dual enrollment practitioners garnered from a purposeful sampling of two Southwestern Pennsylvania universities inform the study. A qualitative approach examines interviews, focus group, and survey data through thematic investigative interpretation to yield common and unique experiences and perspectives relevant to recruitment processes, funding, support systems, and observed outcomes. The findings indicate how adequate preparation, broad-based access, quality opportunity, academic, financial, and psycho-social support hold the keys to equitable recruitment, persistence, and success of both Black and low-income students in dual enrollment programs. Other components are a congenial learning environment, familial/community involvement, the efficacy of the programs as well as close co-operation and communication between high schools and post-secondary institutions. The research found how these dynamics, components, features coupled with other soft skills enable underserved students to acquire knowledge, capacity, and competencies that make for college and career readiness and success. The study presents recommendations meant to improve the equitable recruitment and targeted success of underserved student populations in dual enrollment programs.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

EdD

Level thesis:degree_level

One-year Embargo

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Professional Doctorate in Educational Leadership (ProDEL)

Year dc:date.available

2019

Author dc:creator

• Mbaegbu, Theodore

Contributors dc:contributor

• Gary Shank
• Launcelot Brown
• Stanley Denton

• Dual Enrollment
• Underserved Students
• Underrepresentation
• Equity
• College and Career Readiness and Success
• Inadequate Preparation
• Poor Funding
• Dynamics
• Cultural and Social Capital
• Validation
• Educational Leadership
• Higher Education
• Humane Education
• Secondary Education
• Teacher Education and Professional Development

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/1788

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dsc.duq.edu:etd-2775