University of South Florida Scholar Commons Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate School November 2020 Community College Students’ Perceptions of the Effects of Peer Mentoring on Their Sense of Belonging Bryan K. Sullins University of South Florida Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd Part of the Educational Administration and Supervision Commons, and the Higher Education and Teaching Commons Scholar Commons Citation Sullins, Bryan K., "Community College Students’ Perceptions of the Effects of Peer Mentoring on Their Sense of Belonging" (2020). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/8593 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Community College Students’ Perceptions of the Effects of Peer Mentoring on Their Sense of Belonging by Bryan K. Sullins A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Higher Education Administration Department of Leadership, Policy and Life Long Learning College of Education University of South Florida Major Professor: Amber D. Dumford, Ph.D. Miller, Thomas, Ed.D. Ponticell, Judith, Ph.D. Schneider, Jennifer, Ph.D. Date of Approval: November 6, 2020 Keywords: institutional acceptance, peer belonging, peer mentor, sense of belonging Copyright © 2020, Bryan K. Sullins Dedication This study is dedicated to my wonderful wife Becky whose not-so-subtle reminders kept me on track and provided the motivation I needed to complete this challenging work. Her endless encouragement and unwavering confidence fueled my efforts, prompting me to push myself harder than ever before. Acknowledgements I would like to thank my committee members for their time, assistance, and patience during my dissertation journey. Dr. Thomas Miller, Dr. Judith Ponticell, and Dr. Jennifer Schneider each contributed to my growth and development as a scholar during my time in the curriculum and instruction doctoral program. Specifically, I would like to thank my committee chairperson, Dr. Amber Dumford for her encouragement and guidance throughout the process. I would also like to thank Dr. Robert Sullins, my father, for the example he set, his steadfast support, and his constant reassurance. Table of Contents List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. iv List of Figures ................................................................................................................................. v Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... vi Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1 Remediation in the State of Florida .................................................................................... 3 Problem ............................................................................................................................... 6 Purpose of the Study ........................................................................................................... 8 Research Question ............................................................................................................ 10 Definitions of Terms ......................................................................................................... 10 Assumptions ...................................................................................................................... 12 Limitations ........................................................................................................................ 12 Delimitations ..................................................................................................................... 13 Summary ........................................................................................................................... 13 Chapter 2: Review of the Literature .............................................................................................. 15 History of Peer Mentoring in Higher Education ............................................................... 16 Mentoring Relationships ................................................................................................... 17 Developing Good Mentors ................................................................................................ 19 Benefits of Peer Mentoring ............................................................................................... 21 Benefits to Mentees................................................................................................... 21 Benefits to Mentors. .................................................................................................. 23 Benefits to Institutions. ............................................................................................. 24 Uses of Peer Mentoring in Higher Education ................................................................... 25 Transition to College................................................................................................. 25 Involvement and integration. .................................................................................... 29 Persistence and Retention. ........................................................................................ 29 Peer Mentors as Facilitators of Sense of Belonging. ................................................ 32 Theoretical Framework ..................................................................................................... 34 Sense of Belonging. .................................................................................................. 34 Intersection of Student Development, Peer Mentoring, and Sense of Belonging. ........................................................................................................... 36 Summary ........................................................................................................................... 39 Chapter 3: Research Methods ....................................................................................................... 40 Research Design................................................................................................................ 41 Background ....................................................................................................................... 42 Peer Mentor Selection ....................................................................................................... 44 Peer Mentor Training ........................................................................................................ 44 i Mentor-Mentee Pairing ..................................................................................................... 44 Peer Mentor Accountability .............................................................................................. 45 Participants ........................................................................................................................ 45 Data Collection ................................................................................................................. 46 Interview Questions and Prompts ..................................................................................... 48 Data Analysis .................................................................................................................... 48 Data familiarization. ................................................................................................. 50 Coding. ...................................................................................................................... 50 Final Stages ....................................................................................................................... 51 Trustworthiness ................................................................................................................. 51 Peer review................................................................................................................ 51 Participant feedback. ................................................................................................. 52 Reflective journal. ..................................................................................................... 52 Reflexivity................................................................................................................. 53 Positionality Reflection ..................................................................................................... 53 Connection to the setting. ......................................................................................... 54 Connection to the research problem. ........................................................................ 54 Connection to the participants. ................................................................................. 55 Social identity. .......................................................................................................... 55 Summary ..........................................................................................................................