Factors which support the retention of underrepresented students who participated in an early outreach initiative

Abstract

A qualitative study analyzing what factors contributed to the retention and persistence of Ball State University students who participated in an early outreach initiative; specifically how these factors were supported by the university. Past research on the concept of early outreach and theories on retention served as a basis for this study. Data was collected by conducting semi-structured interviews and online surveys. Through analyzing the experiences of the subjects, two themes emerged from the data: 1) the development of strong personal connections amongst peers supported persistence and retention, and 2) positive interactions with faculty and staff influenced the social and academic development of individuals. A discussion of the emerging themes, in relation to existing literature, and suggestions for future research were presented.