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Examining the academic environment experienced by student-athletes at junior college institutions
Kropp, Dominique Christine
Kropp, Dominique Christine
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Abstract
The overall purpose of this dissertation was to explore the academic environment experienced by student-athletes attending junior colleges. Throughout this study, the terms ‘junior college, two-year college, and community college’ will be used interchangeably. The study took place in two parts. As a pilot study, the investigator conducted interviews student-athlete academic advisors at junior colleges belonging to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). The aim of the pilot study was to explore self-perceptions of athlete academic advisors at two-year community colleges. While research has been conducted regarding academic advising and academic resources among intercollegiate athletics at the NCAA level, little research exists examining the role of the athlete academic advisor in the realm of junior college athletics. Based on a theoretical framework encompassing aspects of identity theory and role theory, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 participants serving in an academic advising role at their respective institutions. Upon completion of data analysis, the researcher identified four prevalent themes: varying nature of the position, advisors’ perceptions of their publics, fostering connections and relationships with student-athletes, and available academic resources (or lack thereof). In the second part of the study, the researcher conducted interviews with various publics at five junior colleges. Participants were comprised of men’s basketball student-athletes, coaches, and administrators. Through a theoretical lens incorporating Astin’s (1993) inputs-environment-outcomes model, the college and junior college environment, and institutional obligations to student-athletes, interview guides were developed in respect to each population. In all, 23 interviews were conducted in both the pilot study and the second part of the study. Analysis of pilot study data revealed four themes: factors and resources available in the academic community, the way in which student-athletes perceive their academic environment, the role of coaches and administrators in implementing these academic resources, and coach and administration perceptions of the impact of the academic resources available for the junior college student-athletes. Study Part Two results identified four themes as well: Factors and resources in the academic community, student-athlete perception of the academic environment, the role of coaches and administrators in implementing resources, and coach and administrator perceptions of resources and aspects of the academic community. This study fills a gap in the literature concerning athlete academic advising at junior college institutions while illustrating the way in which athlete academic advisors perceive their role. In addition, this study highlights junior college student-athlete academics, an area which has received little scholarly attention in the past.
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Date
2020-01-01
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University of Kansas
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This item contains archived web content.
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Kropp_ku_0099D_17311_DATA_1.pdf
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- Embargoed until 2170-05-31
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Keywords
Sports management, Academic Advisors, Academic Services, Athletics, Community College, Junior College