Document Type
Dissertation
Degree
Doctor of Education
Major
Educational Practice
Date of Defense
3-30-2021
Graduate Advisor
Thomasina F. Hassler
Committee
Thomasina F. Hassler
Phyllis Balcerzak
Carl Hoagland
Abstract
This study reviews factors that prior studies have identified or failed to consider as barriers to post-secondary success. The three main areas include academic success for Latinx students after high school, organizational systems and their impact on African-American students’ postsecondary readiness, and what workers think of their high school education with regards to career preparedness.
Five factors are identified as major barriers for Latinx students to continue in a higher education system. A survey of former students from Saint Louis, Missouri, and Dallas, Texas, metroplex area identified 56 Latinx students that participated in an initial survey. This led to a follow-up survey with 16 former students from the first group. Four Latinx students were selected to be part of a face-to-face interview where the qualitative study of this project was derived.
College Preparation Programs play a major role in the success of post-secondary education opportunities. The lack of these successful programs is responsible for some of the barriers to post-secondary success that inner-city minority students may face while trying to transition from high school and on to Colleges and Universities. Further exploration of perspectives of high school graduates on college preparation programs have led to the creation of a survey of former St. Louis City Public Schools high school graduates. The survey collected 20 student perspectives.
The absence of research on post-secondary education success from the perspective of workers led to a nationwide online survey of workers in the construction industry that produced 175 responses. The survey was followed up with 12 more detailed interviews with construction workers in the St. Louis area. Together the survey and interviews identified whether construction workers believe their high school education prepared them for success in their choice careers, and whether they are preparing current students better, or worse, and what secondary education systems need to do differently to improve students' success in this industry.
The authors hope that their studies will help to provide insights to enlightenment for curriculum changes needed to support post-secondary success for underserved and minority populations.
Recommended Citation
Swanson, Douglas; Henderson, NaJeana; and Sloan, Maritza, "Barriers to Post-Secondary Success" (2021). Dissertations. 1049.
https://irl.umsl.edu/dissertation/1049
Included in
American Politics Commons, Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education Commons, Civic and Community Engagement Commons, Community-Based Learning Commons, Community-Based Research Commons, Community College Education Administration Commons, Community College Leadership Commons, Counselor Education Commons, Curriculum and Instruction Commons, Curriculum and Social Inquiry Commons, Economic Policy Commons, Educational Psychology Commons, Educational Technology Commons, Education Economics Commons, Education Policy Commons, Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication Commons, Higher Education Administration Commons, Humane Education Commons, Income Distribution Commons, Interpersonal and Small Group Communication Commons, Labor Economics Commons, Latin American Studies Commons, Liberal Studies Commons, Organizational Communication Commons, Other Education Commons, Other Educational Administration and Supervision Commons, Other Political Science Commons, Physical and Environmental Geography Commons, Prison Education and Reentry Commons, Race and Ethnicity Commons, School Psychology Commons, Secondary Education Commons, Social Justice Commons, Social Statistics Commons, Social Work Commons, University Extension Commons, Vocational Education Commons, Work, Economy and Organizations Commons