ACADEMIC TRAJECTORIES OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF GED RECIPIENTS AND TRADITIONAL HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES by KAREN BLUE Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of The University of Texas at Arlington in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON December 2014 Copyright © by Karen Blue 2014 All Rights Reserved ii Acknowledgements The completion of this research would not have occurred without the dedication of my committee. First, I deeply thank Dr. Maria Trache for serving as my academic mentor and teacher and for the extensive time and energy she spent guiding me on this journey. Dr. Trache offered me patience and kindness as she taught me how to effectively analyze data and how to become a better writer. I also appreciate the continuous input, assistance, and support offered by Dr. Ifeoma Amah and Dr. James Hardy. They encouraged me throughout the coursework and helped me remain focused. The dedication of these three professors is greatly appreciated. Outside of my dissertation committee, my family, friends and my faith in Jesus Christ lifted my spirits throughout the dissertation process. My husband and two daughters, along with my parents, endured days and nights of me researching and writing and never complained. They loved me, believed in me, and cheered me on. They listened to me when I was discouraged and offered me words of hope. My friends motivated me to write and they encouraged me to not give up. My faith was what I turned to in especially difficult times and was what allowed me to see the purpose in my studies. November 12, 2014 iii Abstract ACADEMIC TRAJECTORIES OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF GED RECIPIENTS AND TRADITIONAL HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES by KAREN BLUE, Ph.D. The University of Texas at Arlington, 2014 Supervising Professor: Maria Trache The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of secondary education credential on the academic trajectories of community college students enrolled in courses and programs at a large urban community college in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. The study is based on the assumption that academic capital acquired at college level, and evident in student outcomes, is built on pre-college academic preparedness and affected by one’s college trajectory, being qualified by student’s demographic characteristics. The results indicate that GED recipients required more remedial coursework than high school graduates, especially in mathematics. In addition, the GED recipients were less likely to complete a program of study and earned a lower number of college credits than high school graduates. This study provides some answers about how GED recipients succeed in community colleges, but also demonstrates the need to conduct more research as to learn what are their needs and what are the appropriate and adequate support services to help these students complete degree programs. iv Table of Contents Acknowldegments.............................................................................................................. iii Abstract .............................................................................................................................. iv List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... ix Chapter 1 Introduction .........................................................................................................1 Problem Statement ...........................................................................................................6 Researcher’s Stand ...........................................................................................................7 Purpose of the Study ......................................................................................................10 Research Questions ........................................................................................................11 Significance of the Study ...............................................................................................12 Overview of Dissertation Chapters ................................................................................15 Chapter 2 Literature Review ..............................................................................................17 Secondary Education Credentialing ...............................................................................18 Traditional High School Pathway ..............................................................................18 GED Pathway .............................................................................................................19 College Readiness and Transitioning to College ...........................................................20 Measuring College Readiness ....................................................................................22 Hispanic Serving Institutions .....................................................................................24 College Readiness and GED Recipients ....................................................................25 Support for Improving College Readiness .................................................................26 Post-Secondary Program Completion ............................................................................27 College Retention and Graduation .............................................................................27 v Community Colleges .................................................................................................30 Theoretical Framework ..................................................................................................32 Chapter 3 Method ..............................................................................................................36 Research Questions ........................................................................................................36 Conceptual Model ..........................................................................................................37 Data ................................................................................................................................40 Research Site ..............................................................................................................40 Data Collection Procedures ........................................................................................41 Student Population and Sample Selection .................................................................42 Research Design ............................................................................................................43 Variables ....................................................................................................................43 Statistical Analysis .........................................................................................................47 Chapter 4 Findings .............................................................................................................52 Descriptive Statistics of the Sample ..............................................................................52 Pre-college Preparedness ...............................................................................................56 Remedial Reading and Secondary Education Credential ..........................................57 Gender Groups .........................................................................................................59 Ethnic Groups ..........................................................................................................60 Age Groups ..............................................................................................................61 Remedial Writing and Secondary Education Credential ...........................................61 Gender Groups .........................................................................................................63 Ethnic Groups ..........................................................................................................63 vi Age Groups ..............................................................................................................64 Remedial Math and Secondary Education Credential ...............................................64 Gender Groups .........................................................................................................66 Ethnic Groups ..........................................................................................................66 Age Groups ..............................................................................................................67 Comparative Analysis of College Trajectories ..............................................................68 Program Completion and Secondary Education Credential ......................................69 Gender Groups .........................................................................................................72 Ethnic Groups ..........................................................................................................72 Age Groups ..............................................................................................................73 College Level GPA and Secondary Education Credential .......................................73 Gender Groups .........................................................................................................74