A Case Study Exploration of First-Generation and Low-Income College Students Facing Academic Distress Decision-Making in Regards to Financing Their Education

• Other Authors: Felix, Jovany M. (author)
• Format: Others
• Language: English; English
• Published: Florida State University
• Subjects: Education and state
• Online Access: http://purl.flvc.org/fsu/fd/2018_Fall_Felix_fsu_0071E_14898

During the past 20 years, there has been a change in the higher educational landscape. As federal financial assistance to students has increased in form of increased educational loans, state educational funding to higher educational institutions has decreased. To make up the shortfall and to address rising operational costs, institutions have increased student tuition. These changes underlie a continuing discussion as to whether society or the individual benefit from higher educational attainment. Part of that discussion is if one particular entity benefits the most from a higher educational degree, then they should be responsible for the majority of the cost of higher education. With shifts in funding from society to the individual, it then becomes important to explore what the effects of those costs are, what effect costs have on decision-making in the college-going process, and who is affected by the costs the most. This study focuses on first-generation and low-income college students facing academic distress and the factors that affect their decision-making in regards to financing their education. This qualitative case study takes place at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and employs a two-stage process that includes document analysis and interviews. The theoretical framework that is used in this study is based on Perna's (2006) conceptual model about college-choice. The findings from the research are then used to modify the conceptual model to create a theoretical model. The theoretical model can be summarized by stating: first-generation and low-income students who are facing academic distress are influenced by family characteristics, access to educational finance information, and transitional issues when deciding how to finance their college education. While we do not know their decision-making process, we know that their decisions result in them paying for their college-related costs and financially supporting their families by using financial aid and by working. === A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. === Fall Semester 2018. === October 25, 2018. === Includes bibliographical references. === Patrice Iatarola, Professor Directing Dissertation; Diana Rice, University Representative; Shouping Hu, Committee Member; Toby Park, Committee Member.