Factors That Determine Student Persistence in Information Technology Programs

There was a recognized high rate of students enrolled in technology programs who did not graduate college. Scholars who had studied predictors of college completion surmised there were several behavioral traits associated with a student achieving their college objectives through graduation; one of those factors was persistence. Persistence, the unyielding continuance to succeed despite any challenge, was one of the major factors in college completion. Traditionally, research on student persistence focused on the predictors of dropout, with less emphasis on why students changed programs to non-technology programs or why they left the technology program or college entirely. This study was conducted at a community college to examine personal and institutional factors that caused the continual decrease of program completion and graduation rate in postsecondary technology programs. This research explored coping mechanisms that technology students 18-years and older indicated were methods to help them persist in school. In addition, this study examined factors such as motivation, emotion, and economic variables that may have accounted for a lack of persistence. The methodology was a qualitative format which examined the persistence factors such as gender, age, economics, educational status, and many other factors that may have contributed to why students were not completing their technology program and not progressing in their studies, thereby stagnating their personal and financial growth. The findings of this research can be used to develop strategic initiatives that might improve student persistence. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]