An Investigation of Factors Associated With the Academic Success, Persistence, and Satisfaction of Community College Students With Learning Disabilities

This study investigated the perceptions of community college students with LD about those factors thought to improve their academic success, persistence, and satisfaction. The purpose of the study was to compare information from students with LD who were in degree transfer programs or in vocational preparation programs to see if there were differences between the groups in the help they needed to be successful and what they thought was important. Of the students who responded to the survey (n = 147), 71% were in degree transfer programs, and 29% were in vocational preparation programs. Students were asked to indicate the extent of help they needed and the importance of items in three categories (e.g., transition activities, personal learning characteristics, and academic supports) to their academic success. Statistical analyses showed that there were so significant differences between the groups on any of the dependent variables. Descriptive analyses revealed that degree transfer students needed the most help in the academic supports category, but they thought that developing personal learning characteristics was most important. In contrast, the vocational preparation students needed the most help in the personal learning characteristics category, and, similar to the degree transfer students, they thought this category was most important. Correlation analyses showed statistically significant relationships between the extent of help students needed and what they rated as being important in all categories although the strengths of the correlations were weak. Both groups of students were more than somewhat satisfied with the academic supports they received. Findings from this study have implications for postsecondary education support programs.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Education

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Rattin, Sue Ellen

Contributors dc:contributor

• Janis Chadsey

• Education, Community College

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI3017191

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/79601