Graduate Program

College Student Affairs

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Semester of Degree Completion

2010

Thesis Director

James Wallace

Thesis Committee Member

Karla Sanders

Thesis Committee Member

Mona Davenport

Abstract

This mixed method study was designed to understand the impact of a first-year seminar on the college success of African American males at Eastern Illinois University. The primary . researcher conducted one on one interviews with nine African American males. Three participants enrolled in EIU 1111 (first year seminar) by choice, three enrolled in EIU 1111 by conscription, and three did not enroll in EIU 1111. The interviews were transcribed and themes were identified. The results from the interviews indicated that peer support and faculty and staff interaction outside of the classroom influenced college success.

The quantitative data ( e.g. ACT score, GP A, EIU 1111 enrollment, year of entry) were examined using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Descriptive statistic tests were run to determine a difference in students that enrolled in EIU 1111 and students that did not enroll in EIU 1111. Their results indicated there was no statistical significance with any test run.

The results to the present study were followed by discussion based on the research questions. Conclusions were drawn from the present study and recommendations made for future researchers.

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