Exploring College Readiness: Self-Perceptions of Early College Students

Georgia State University ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University Educational Policy Studies Dissertations Department of Educational Policy Studies Spring 5-11-2012 Exploring College Readiness: Self-Perceptions of Early College Students Kim Renee Ramsey-White Georgia State University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/eps_diss Recommended Citation Ramsey-White, Kim Renee, "Exploring College Readiness: Self-Perceptions of Early College Students." Dissertation, Georgia State University, 2012 doi: https://doi.org/10.57709/2764752 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Educational Policy Studies at ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University It has been accepted for inclusion in Educational Policy Studies Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University For more information, please contact scholarworks@gsu.edu ACCEPTANCE This dissertation, EXPLORING COLLEGE READINESS: SELF-PERCEPTIONS OF EARLY COLLEGE STUDENTS, by KIM R RAMSEY-WHITE, was prepared under the direction of the candidate’s Dissertation Advisory Committee It is accepted by the committee members in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in the College of Education, Georgia State University The Dissertation Advisory Committee and the student’s Department Chair, as representatives of the faculty, certify that this dissertation has met all standards of excellence and scholarship as determined by the faculty The Dean of the College of Education concurs Jennifer Esposito, Ph.D Committee Chair Janice G Fournillier, Ph.D Committee Member Gwendolyn T Benson, Ph.D Committee Member Brian A Williams, Ph.D Committee Member Phillip E Gagne, Ph.D Committee Member Date William L Curlette, Ph.D Chair, Department of Educational Policy Studies R W Kamphaus, Ph.D Dean and Distinguished Research Professor College of Education AUTHOR’S STATEMENT By presenting this dissertation as a partial fulfillment of the requirements for the advanced degree from Georgia State University, I agree that the library of Georgia State University shall make it available for inspection and circulation in accordance with its regulations governing materials of this type I agree that permission to quote, to copy from, or to publish this dissertation may be granted by the professor under whose direction it was written, by the College of Education’s director of graduate studies and research, or by me Such quoting, copying, or publishing must be solely for scholarly purposes and will not involve potential financial gain It is understood that any copying from or publication of this dissertation which involves potential financial gain will not be allowed without my written permission _ Kim R Ramsey-White NOTICE TO BORROWERS All dissertations deposited in the Georgia State University Library must be used in accordance with the stipulations prescribed by the author in the preceding statement The author of this dissertation is: Kim R Ramsey-White 80 Trelawney Circle Covington, GA 30016 The Director of this dissertation is: Dr Jennifer Esposito Department of Educational Policy Studies College of Education Georgia State University CURRICULUM VITAE Kim R Ramsey-White ADDRESS: 80 Trelawney Circle Covington, GA 30016 EDUCATION: Ph.D 2012 M.P.H 1997 B.S 1983 Urban Public Research University Educational Policy Studies University of Alabama-Birmingham Maternal and Child Health Hampton University Marketing PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: 2009-present Evaluation and Research Consultant White and Associates, Covington, GA 2008-2011 Director of Diversity Assessment and Research Management Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY 2005-present University Liaison Urban Public Research University, Atlanta 1996-2005 Data Manager/Youth Services Director Project Healthy Grandparents, Atlanta, GA PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES AND ORGANIZATIONS 2007-present National Association of Multi-Cultural Education (NAME) 2006-2008 Atlanta Area Evaluation Association (AAEA) 2005-present American Education Research Association (AERA) PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS: White, K., & Sanchez, V (2010, November) An introduction to inclusive excellence: In the context of institutional transformation Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY White, K., Harris, T., & Henry, K (2010 February) How College Partners Can Effectively Support an Early College State Early College Winter Institute, Peachtree City, GA White, K., Sheppard, B Cote, J., & Lara, P (2007, February) Youth Culture: Are You in the Know? Kiwanis International-Key Leader Facilitation Training, Hampton, GA Benson, G., Thornton, M McCloud, J., & White, K (2007, February) One Year After Reinventing An Urban High School and An Urban University Partnership: Lessons Learned at Early College High School American Association for Colleges of Teacher Education New York Benson, G., Thornton, M Deming, R Dock, R., & White, K (2006, January) Early College High School: A University/ School Partnership for Success American Association for Colleges of Teacher Education San Diego, CA Sipe, T A., White, K (2004, October) Project Healthy Grandparents: Youth Leadership Program Children and Youth Coordinating Council Conference- Kennesaw State University Kennesaw, GA White, K (2003, November) Abstinence Education and At-Risk Youth Annual Parents and Youth Convocation Inter-Denominational Theological Center, Atlanta, GA Whitley, D M., Kelley, S J., & White, K (2002, October) Saturday Youth Academy: A Mental Health Support Group for Grandchildren Living with Grandparents National Association of Social Workers-Georgia Chapter, 14th Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA Whitley, D., & White, K.(2001, October) Saturday Youth Academy: An Innovation for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren American Public Health Association Atlanta, GA Kelley, S., Whitley, D., & White, K (2001, July) Saturday Youth Academy: Mental Health Support for Grandchildren Being Raised by Grandparents Child Welfare League of America Chicago Kelly, S., White, K (2001, June) Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: An InterDisciplinary Approach American Professional Society Against the Abuse of Children Washington, DC White, K (2001, March) Effective Communication with Grandparents Raising Grandchildren National SIDS Alliance Chicago White, K (1999, November) Strengths Based Case Management American Public Health Association Chicago Whitley, D M., White, K R., Kelley, S J., & Yorker, B (1999) Strengths-based case management: A practical application Families in Society.(80,2), 110-119 ABSTRACT EXPLORING COLLEGE READINESS: SELF-PERCEPTIONS OF EARLY COLLEGE STUDENTS by Kim R Ramsey-White Research shows that too many students are graduating from high school illprepared to be successful in the postsecondary environment This study examined the high school experiences of dual-enrollment students who participated in an Early College High School, and how the students perceived their high school experiences in preparing them for college Additionally the study sought to understand the role that social capital played in the students’ preparation for college In-depth interviews with 13 African American students, some of whom were first-generation college attendees, were used to illuminate the student voice in an effort to learn how early college practices and strategies were beneficial and/or detrimental to their preparation for college Data from the study were analyzed using a college readiness framework developed by David Conley (2007) which focuses on four dimensions of college readiness: (1) Key cognitive strategies, (2) academic content, (3) academic skills and behavior, and (4) contextual skills and awareness Findings from the study indicate that the students’ Early College High School experiences increased their confidence as college students (key cognitive strategies), taught them the benefits of time management and working in study groups (academic skills and behavior), and provided meaningful relationships and social networks that allowed them to navigate the college application and financial aid processes (contextual skills and awareness) The students also expressed concern that there was very limited alignment between the high school academic courses and expectations and those in the postsecondary institutions they attended The results of the study contribute to the scholarship on the Early College model EXPLORING COLLEGE READINESS: SELF-PERCEPTIONS OF EARLY COLLEGE STUDENTS by Kim R Ramsey-White A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Research, Measurement and Statistics in the Department of Educational Policy Studies in the College of Education Georgia State University Atlanta, GA 2012 Copyright by Kim R Ramsey-White 2012 ... institutions they attended The results of the study contribute to the scholarship on the Early College model EXPLORING COLLEGE READINESS: SELF-PERCEPTIONS OF EARLY COLLEGE STUDENTS by Kim R Ramsey-White... Society.(80,2), 110-119 ABSTRACT EXPLORING COLLEGE READINESS: SELF-PERCEPTIONS OF EARLY COLLEGE STUDENTS by Kim R Ramsey-White Research shows that too many students are graduating from high...ACCEPTANCE This dissertation, EXPLORING COLLEGE READINESS: SELF-PERCEPTIONS OF EARLY COLLEGE STUDENTS, by KIM R RAMSEY-WHITE, was prepared under the direction of the candidate’s Dissertation