INTERVIEW QUESTIONS 1
Low Graduation Rates at Glendale Community College: Interview Questions
Central Research Question
How can the problem of low graduation rates among black (non-Hispanic) students at Glendale Community College be addressed?
Interview Questions
1. In your view, what are some of the challenges students face at Glendale Community College that could prevent them from completing their courses and graduating in time?
Studies have shown that students retention in institutions of higher learning is influenced by a range of personal and institutional factors. According to Kennedy & Wilson-Jones (2019), a student is more likely to complete their course if they have access to supportive faculty and university personnel, are actively involved in students activities in campus, and if they have access to campus resources such as honors programs, disability services, and tutoring programs. The authors also found that availability of financial aid, helpful customer service, and supplemental instruction programs enhanced academic progression and retention among college students (Kennedy & Wilson, 2019). The study found that male students retention was particularly influenced by access to male initiatives such as culture field trips and off and on- campus community service activities (Kennedy & Wilson, 2019). Another study by Kurland and Siegel (2020) showed that students were more likely to complete their college studies if they shared strong attachments with their parents and professors.
This question seeks to find out...
The challenges that prevent students from graduating may vary from college to college due to differences in institutional cultures, infrastructure, and geographical location. By asking this question, the researcher seeks to obtain a clear picture of campus life at Glendale College and how these influence students satisfaction. Kennedy and Wilson (2019) found a positive correlation between student satisfaction and retention. Thus, understanding the unique challenges that students at Glendale face will be crucial in informing an effective student...
…college environment, they could develop alienation and oppositional behaviors such as creating identities that oppose the dominant institutional culture. This makes them less likely to students to persist in
school (Patterson et al., 2019). Secondly, the interventions need to provide sufficient financial aid, particularly for students from disadvantaged backgrounds (Patterson et al., 2019). Finally, the
intervention needs to have sufficient faculty and institutional support so as to foster effective teacher-student interactions (Patterson et al., 2019). Minority students are more likely to be committed to the institution if they perceive that the institution is committed to them (Patterson et al., 2019).
Based on the existing studies, this question will help the researcher obtain students perspectives on the effectiveness of the existing programs. It will also provide a feel of the students expectations around a student-retention intervention and help identify whether the existing programs meet these expectations. Further, feedback on this question will help the researcher determine the extent to which the existing programs create…
