Graduate Program

College Student Affairs

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Semester of Degree Completion

2011

Thesis Director

Richard Roberts

Thesis Committee Member

Karla Sanders

Thesis Committee Member

Jody Stone

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of freshmen students on the subject of academic support in the residence halls. Prior research in the field indicated there are many different approaches to academic support in the residence halls such as the professional and resident assistant staff, academic programming as well as the physical environment, and exploring living learning community programs. The prior research also indicated the need to identify the unique millennial generational needs as well as the goals of integrative learning. A qualitative study was conducted in three focus group settings to gain an understanding of the perceptions of 14 freshman students on the academic support they feel is received in the residence halls as well as the support they wish to see in relation to characteristics ofliving-learning communities. General themes and categories from participant responses were critically evaluated. The findings suggest students do not perceive professional staff members to be forms of academic support and felt the need to keep their home and academic life separate. These findings are followed by a discussion section connecting the participant responses to prior research, as well as recommendations for administrators to consider when taking into account the development of academic support for freshmen in the residence hall setting.

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