Post-Secondary Engagement Influences Thriving and Retention

Main Article Content

Darcy Tessman

Abstract

Levels of student engagement positively relate to feelings of belonging, retention, and graduation rates. This research examines student experiences utilizing high-impact practices at a rural institution in Oklahoma. Peer mentors lead student participants in two service-learning-based, co-curricular experiences to measure social competency and compare the perceived experience of students in a peer mentor role versus students in a mentee role. After each event, participants completed a retrospective post / pre-survey. The variables of confidence, competence, and connectedness were used to measure the percent change in social competency between groups. The Peer group showed a positive change in the measures of two variables and the Mentor group showed a positive change for all three. The results indicate support for the hypotheses that greater engagement increases social competency and retention until graduation.

Article Details

Section
Articles