Graduate Program

College Student Affairs

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Semester of Degree Completion

2009

Thesis Director

Charles Eberly

Thesis Committee Member

Lou Hencken

Thesis Committee Member

Jody Stone

Abstract

Promoting student involvement on college campuses is an important asset for the college community. Involvement plays a role in several factors, one of the most important being overall student satisfaction. In what way is student satisfaction affected when first year students are given an extra leadership opportunity where they are automatically put in a leadership position just as they move onto campus? More importantly, in what manner will placement in a leadership role impact their development? The present study investigated the role of student involvement in the personal development of a group of Midwestern university freshmen women placed in a residence hall first year leadership program at the start of their first college semester. Data were gathered by means of one-on-one interviews conducted by the researcher among a snowball sample of participants and non-participants in the Creating Unique Beginnings for Success (C.U.B.S.) residence hall leadership program. Qualitative data were analyzed using the method of constant comparative analysis to further understand the perceived role of volunteer leadership involvement among freshmen at the university during the first semester, as well as for formative program evaluation of the C.U.B.S. program. C.U.B.S. participants, compared to non-participants, gained greater personal confidence, took more risks to get involved in residence life activities, and were more satisfied with their overall residence life experience.

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