Date
4-2019
Department
School of Education
Degree
Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (EdD)
Chair
Kurt Michael
Keywords
Student Engagement, Retention, Minority Students, Faith-based Institution
Disciplines
Education
Recommended Citation
Smith, Stephanie Ann, "Student Engagement and Retention of Minority Students in a Faith-based Institution" (2019). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 2079.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/2079
Abstract
Although there is research in student engagement and retention in higher education institutions, there is little predictive research that study minority students attending faith-based institutions. Due to the established relationship between student engagement and retention, it was important to understand what aspects of student engagement may predict the retention of minority students in order to establish programming and possibly raise the retention rates of these populations. Using the theoretical framework of student involvement and persistence, this predictive, correlational study used archival data to determine if any of the National Survey of Student Engagement’s (NSSE) engagement indicators predicted the retention of minority students in a faith-based institution. A logistics regression analysis was used to review 168 NSSE surveys and determine if any of the criterion variables predicted retention. Although, analysis revealed that none of the NSSE engagement indicators produced statistically significant predictive relationships with the retention of minority students, collaborative learning and supportive environment demonstrated notably significant relationships with the retention of these students in a faith-based institution.
