This study examined the effect of the NOVA program, a Students Support Services program at Eastern Kentucky University, on academic success for first-generation and low-income college students. An archival database was used to identify differences in the level of academic success among first-year students in the NOVA program from fall-to-fall of their freshmen year compared to non-NOVA students of comparable backgrounds. Additionally, a survey was administered to identify which services provided by NOVA as rated by participating students predict academic success. Results showed that NOVA students have higher cumulative GPAs, retention rates, and percentage of credits earned. Analyses of the survey data show that fall-to-fall retention can be predicted based on NOVA people and services. Several recommendations were made based on the results of the study.
","abstract_html":"<p>This study examined the effect of the NOVA program, a Students Support Services program at Eastern Kentucky University, on academic success for first-generation and low-income college students. An archival database was used to identify differences in the level of academic success among first-year students in the NOVA program from fall-to-fall of their freshmen year compared to non-NOVA students of comparable backgrounds. Additionally, a survey was administered to identify which services provided by NOVA as rated by participating students predict academic success. Results showed that NOVA students have higher cumulative GPAs, retention rates, and percentage of credits earned. Analyses of the survey data show that fall-to-fall retention can be predicted based on NOVA people and services. Several recommendations were made based on the results of the study. </p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Wilson, Ryan Martin"],"institution":"Eastern Kentucky University","degree_name":"Doctor of Education (EdD)","degree_level":"Doctoral's","degree_discipline":"Educational Leadership and Policy Studies","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2013,"date_issued":"2013-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2013-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:15:19Z","subjects":["academic success","first-year students","student support services","college students","Educational Administration and Supervision","Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research"],"languages":[],"rights":["Copyright 2013 Ryan Martin Wilson"],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/148","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Wilson, Ryan Martin"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Encompass Digital Archive, Eastern Kentucky University"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Dissertation"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Educational Leadership and Policy Studies"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Doctoral's"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Education (EdD)"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Eastern Kentucky University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["academic success","first-year students","student support services","college students","Educational Administration and Supervision","Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Copyright 2013 Ryan Martin Wilson"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/148"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This study examined the effect of the NOVA program, a Students Support Services program at Eastern Kentucky University, on academic success for first-generation and low-income college students. An archival database was used to identify differences in the level of academic success among first-year students in the NOVA program from fall-to-fall of their freshmen year compared to non-NOVA students of comparable backgrounds. Additionally, a survey was administered to identify which services provided by NOVA as rated by participating students predict academic success. Results showed that NOVA students have higher cumulative GPAs, retention rates, and percentage of credits earned. Analyses of the survey data show that fall-to-fall retention can be predicted based on NOVA people and services. Several recommendations were made based on the results of the study.
"]},{"key":"dc:format","label":"Dc Format","values":["application/pdf"]},{"key":"dc:source","label":"Dc Source","values":["Encompass Digital Archive: Online Theses and Dissertations"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["The Effect of a Student Support Services Program on Academic Success at an Appalachian Comprehensive University"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:creator":["Wilson, Ryan Martin"],"dc:description.abstract":["This study examined the effect of the NOVA program, a Students Support Services program at Eastern Kentucky University, on academic success for first-generation and low-income college students. An archival database was used to identify differences in the level of academic success among first-year students in the NOVA program from fall-to-fall of their freshmen year compared to non-NOVA students of comparable backgrounds. Additionally, a survey was administered to identify which services provided by NOVA as rated by participating students predict academic success. Results showed that NOVA students have higher cumulative GPAs, retention rates, and percentage of credits earned. Analyses of the survey data show that fall-to-fall retention can be predicted based on NOVA people and services. Several recommendations were made based on the results of the study.
"],"dc:format":["application/pdf"],"dc:identifier":["https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/148"],"dc:publisher":["Encompass Digital Archive, Eastern Kentucky University"],"dc:rights":["Copyright 2013 Ryan Martin Wilson"],"dc:source":["Encompass Digital Archive: Online Theses and Dissertations"],"dc:subject":["academic success","first-year students","student support services","college students","Educational Administration and Supervision","Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research"],"dc:title":["The Effect of a Student Support Services Program on Academic Success at an Appalachian Comprehensive University"],"dc:type":["Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Educational Leadership and Policy Studies"],"thesis:degree_level":["Doctoral's"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Education (EdD)"],"thesis:institution_name":["Eastern Kentucky University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:15:19Z"}