Location
Hamilton B
Proposal Track
Research Project
Session Format
Presentation
Abstract
Founded in the late 1880’s, this college originally served students exclusively from the surrounding Appalachian region. Faculty to student ratios average 18:1 and the number of students served average 1000-1200. Today, although the college serves a more diverse student body geographically, it still endeavors to retain the culture of personal attention and support from faculty and staff. These attributes make the college attractive to students from rural communities who often are first generation college students. Striving to survive against competition from both well-funded larger private colleges as well as from state colleges and universities, places pressure on college administration to retain both students and faculty.
Recently, the college received a Title III grant from the Department of Education’s Strengthening Institutions Programs. These programs involves updating technology as well using faculty development as tools for student success. Satisfaction surveys conducted prior to the awarding of the grant revealed that students were leaving the college because of antiquated technology or faculty not having technology skills. This research in progress studies the impact of initiatives of updated technology and faculty development on measures of student success by comparing campus satisfaction surveys before and after the awarding of the Title III grant.
Keywords
small college, faculty developement, technology, student retention
Recommended Citation
Lumpkin, Peggy A., "Supporting Rural Student Success in Higher Education" (2017). Georgia Educational Research Association Conference. 33.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gera/2017/2017/33
Included in
Supporting Rural Student Success in Higher Education
Hamilton B
Founded in the late 1880’s, this college originally served students exclusively from the surrounding Appalachian region. Faculty to student ratios average 18:1 and the number of students served average 1000-1200. Today, although the college serves a more diverse student body geographically, it still endeavors to retain the culture of personal attention and support from faculty and staff. These attributes make the college attractive to students from rural communities who often are first generation college students. Striving to survive against competition from both well-funded larger private colleges as well as from state colleges and universities, places pressure on college administration to retain both students and faculty.
Recently, the college received a Title III grant from the Department of Education’s Strengthening Institutions Programs. These programs involves updating technology as well using faculty development as tools for student success. Satisfaction surveys conducted prior to the awarding of the grant revealed that students were leaving the college because of antiquated technology or faculty not having technology skills. This research in progress studies the impact of initiatives of updated technology and faculty development on measures of student success by comparing campus satisfaction surveys before and after the awarding of the Title III grant.
