Impact of Living on Campus During COVID-19 on the Freshman 2020 Cohort Relating to Retention at a Private Urban HBCU in the Southeastern Region of the United States

Gomes_Cynthia, Clark Atlanta University

2022-12

2020-2029

This study analyzed how living on campus with access to infrastructure and student services contributed to student retention at this historically black university. The researcher used a quantitative methods research methodology. The researcher focused on the student experience of the undergraduates who entered the private urban historically black university in the Southeastern Region of the United States as first-time freshmen during Fall 2020. Spring 2021 offered an optional hybrid version of education and residency. In addition, a comparison analysis was conducted between the 2020 first-year students that stayed online for Spring 2021 and those that lived on campus during Spring 2021. An online survey was sent to the 542 returning cohort members to the historically black university, with 91 surveys returned. In addition, the researcher obtained data sets from the past five years representing freshman retention at the subject intuition. Conclusions could shape university technology planning, infrastructure planning, dining and housing services, student and academic services, and recruitment strategies. Results were most impactful around the attitudes and experiences of the first-year students relating to the perceived access to all student services and academic services offered virtual or in-person. In addition, the study examined satisfaction with housing when students had the option to return in Spring 2021 and how this might impact their desire to graduate from the subject institution. The retention rate (69%) compared to the past displayed a slight decline over the best of 2018-2019. The overall national retention rates for 2020 freshmen at public, private, Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs), and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) were similar to the subject institution. Given the expectations of the students, housing services, amenities, and facility infrastructure is critical in attracting and retaining them in both on-ground and virtual environments. The institution could reimagine strategic planning, master campus planning, and financial resources. In addition, further research on the delivery of social activities is critical to retaining students and promoting their sense of belonging and loyalty to the institution. The institution should address the inequities exposed with advocacy and an aggressive funding campaign.

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application/pdf

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Atlanta University and Clark Atlanta University Theses and Dissertations

2022-12

dissertation

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Clark Atlanta University

Department of Educational Leadership

Akua, Chike

Clark Atlanta University

Georgia--Atlanta

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12322/cau.td:2022_gomes_cynthia

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/