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Understanding a College-Going Culture in the Secondary Level for At-Risk Students

Bonham, Bradley K

Abstract Details

2014, Doctor of Philosophy, University of Toledo, Higher Education.
First-generation, low-income, underrepresented students are considered an at-risk population for higher education. Scholars have identified three main types of students who fall under the category of at-risk students: first-generation students, low-income students, and underrepresented students. The reasons for low college-going rates for at-risk students who are traditional in age vary. Some reasons include insufficient college-knowledge within the family or community, low degree aspirations, lack of social support, and insufficient college readiness. Knowledge about a strong college-going culture for at-risk students is limited. There is a gap in research regarding school cultures which promote college attendance for at-risk students. Many studies focus on the barriers and issues that at-risk students face in the college choice process. However, there is a lack of information regarding a school culture designed to prepare at-risk students for attending college. The purpose of this study is to explore a strong college-going culture designed specifically to prepare traditional-age at-risk students for college. The methodology used for the research is a case study. The site selected for the case study is Cristo Rey Jesuit High School Twin Cities. As part of the methodology, Schein’s theory of organizational culture was used. Based on the research, there were three basic underlying assumptions at Cristo Rey; care and love for the individual student, commitment to educating the poor and building student self-esteem and confidence. All the basic underlying assumptions were seen as critical in improving the college-going rates for the at-risk students.
Snejana Slantcheva-Durst (Committee Chair)
Karen Elliot (Committee Member)
Lynne Hamer (Committee Member)
Richard Kohler (Committee Member)
218 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Bonham, B. K. (2014). Understanding a College-Going Culture in the Secondary Level for At-Risk Students [Doctoral dissertation, University of Toledo]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1418312278

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Bonham, Bradley. Understanding a College-Going Culture in the Secondary Level for At-Risk Students. 2014. University of Toledo, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1418312278.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Bonham, Bradley. "Understanding a College-Going Culture in the Secondary Level for At-Risk Students." Doctoral dissertation, University of Toledo, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1418312278

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)