An exploration of the perceptions of socioeconomically marginalized students who persist in an institutionally driven scholarship program

This qualitative study explored factors which socioeconomically marginalized community college students perceived impacted their ability to persist in an institutionally driven first-dollar grant aid program. Educational equity served as the theoretical framework. The conceptual base centered around a strengths-based orientation to student success. This study helps to fill a knowledge gap regarding first-dollar grant aid programs within a single public college. The study was conducted in a state college located in north Florida. State funding of grant aid is an important aspect of educational equity and can impact an institution’s budgeting for its socioeconomically marginalized students, so this dissertation includes contextual background on Florida’s legislative positionality regarding need-based aid. Six themes emerged from the study: aspirations and beliefs about the ability to succeed in college, commitment to goal, institutional supports, paying for college and life, sense of belonging, and time management. Major findings suggested that (a) recurring first dollar-aid, (b) having a dedicated program coordinator, (c) exposure to similar peer alumni, and (d) fostering a sense of belonging were perceived by students as powerful factors that impacted their ability to persist in college.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ed.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Educ Policy, Orgzn & Leadrshp

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2024

Author dc:creator

• Norris, Jerri

Contributors dc:contributor

• Mason, Curtis
• Baber, Lorenzo
• Ward Hood, Denice
• Pak, Yoon

• College
• Equity
• Need-based Grant Aid
• Persistence
• Socioeconomically Marginalized

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2024 Jerri Norris

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/125704

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F125704