DR. MARCiA A. ROMAN serves as the director of student success initiatives at Seminole Community C... more DR. MARCiA A. ROMAN serves as the director of student success initiatives at Seminole Community College (FL). She has nearly 20 years experience in student affairs, having served as the director of career services for a private graduate school in southern California, and as a tenured faculty member responsible for services that span the student life cycle at three different community colleges in Pennsylvania and Florida.
Student retention has become a serious topic in the past several decades (Wild and Ebbers, 2002).... more Student retention has become a serious topic in the past several decades (Wild and Ebbers, 2002). Problematic, however, is how retention is defined and measured, as well as a lack of multi-institutional studies that support a theoretical model for improving student retention, particularly in community colleges (Bailey & Alfonso, 2005). The Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE) was launched in 2001. Based on extensive research that pertains to student learning and persistence, CCSSE defined five benchmarks of educational practice. Three of the benchmarks comprise the Retention Index. CCSSE has encouraged additional studies to further validate the relatively new survey instrument. Florida's legislature has a keen interest in the performance of educational institutions which are mandated by statute to participate in system-wide data collection from which accountability measures are drawn, including institutional retention rates. Using institutional level data in simple and multiple linear regressions, this study examined the relationship between the Florida Community Colleges' CCSSE Retention Indices and their retention rate(s) measured by the Florida Accountability Measure. Student level data was also analyzed using a Nested ANOVA to examine mean differences in CCSSE Retention Index scores of students from different racial and gender groups when accounting for the possible influence of institution attended. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Opportunity and accomplishment are rarely accessed and achieved solely through the efforts of a single individual. While there are many who played a part, either directly or indirectly, aware or unaware of their role in helping me to achieve this milestone, several are particularly noteworthy. It is with gratitude and respect that I acknowledge the contributions of my advisor, Dr. Rosemarye Taylor and committee members, Drs. Debbie Hahs-Vaughn, Grant Hayes and Kenneth Murray whose encouragement, guidance, support and confidence in me were inspiring. I also wish to thank the staff at CCSSE who not only granted permission to use its data set, but were also responsive to questions, both about this study, and also about how my current institution is using the CCSSE for assessment and improvement strategies. Dr. Patricia Windham, Associate Vice Chancellor for Evaluation with the Division of Community Colleges at the Florida Department of Education, was most helpful in providing the datasets for the analyses after permission was granted by CCSSE. My dear Mom and Dad, Frank and Clara Roman, for all they have joyfully given over the years and the sacrifices made to raise our family. Thank you for cultivating an interest and enjoyment of learning, instilling a sense of discipline and conscientiousness, and encouraging me to embrace what life offers with balance and perspective. My brothers and sisters-John, Francis, Karen, Gregory, David, Kevin and Mary Jo-their partners and children, whom I admire for being their unique selves, with their own pursuits and achievements-for also being my teachers. v And finally, I wish to thank Dan. My companion, my friend, my husband, Daniel Dutkofski…now as then, εϋχάρίστω τω θεω περί σου. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES.
DR. MARCiA A. ROMAN serves as the director of student success initiatives at Seminole Community C... more DR. MARCiA A. ROMAN serves as the director of student success initiatives at Seminole Community College (FL). She has nearly 20 years experience in student affairs, having served as the director of career services for a private graduate school in southern California, and as a tenured faculty member responsible for services that span the student life cycle at three different community colleges in Pennsylvania and Florida.
DR. MARCiA A. ROMAN serves as the director of student success initiatives at Seminole Community C... more DR. MARCiA A. ROMAN serves as the director of student success initiatives at Seminole Community College (FL). She has nearly 20 years experience in student affairs, having served as the director of career services for a private graduate school in southern California, and as a tenured faculty member responsible for services that span the student life cycle at three different community colleges in Pennsylvania and Florida.
Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 2010
Institutional and student level data from the Florida Community Colleges were examined to explore... more Institutional and student level data from the Florida Community Colleges were examined to explore the Retention Index of the Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE). A simple correlation and regression analysis was conducted to determine if the CCSSE Retention Index could be used to predict the institutional retention rate calculated for the state accountability measure. Student level data were used with a nested ANOVA to examine if there were mean differences in the CCSSE Retention Index scores of males and females of different racial groups when accounting for the potential influence of the institution attended. Mean differences were examined since differences in retention rates of these groups have been documented.
DR. MARCiA A. ROMAN serves as the director of student success initiatives at Seminole Community C... more DR. MARCiA A. ROMAN serves as the director of student success initiatives at Seminole Community College (FL). She has nearly 20 years experience in student affairs, having served as the director of career services for a private graduate school in southern California, and as a tenured faculty member responsible for services that span the student life cycle at three different community colleges in Pennsylvania and Florida.
Student retention has become a serious topic in the past several decades (Wild and Ebbers, 2002).... more Student retention has become a serious topic in the past several decades (Wild and Ebbers, 2002). Problematic, however, is how retention is defined and measured, as well as a lack of multi-institutional studies that support a theoretical model for improving student retention, particularly in community colleges (Bailey & Alfonso, 2005). The Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE) was launched in 2001. Based on extensive research that pertains to student learning and persistence, CCSSE defined five benchmarks of educational practice. Three of the benchmarks comprise the Retention Index. CCSSE has encouraged additional studies to further validate the relatively new survey instrument. Florida's legislature has a keen interest in the performance of educational institutions which are mandated by statute to participate in system-wide data collection from which accountability measures are drawn, including institutional retention rates. Using institutional level data in simple and multiple linear regressions, this study examined the relationship between the Florida Community Colleges' CCSSE Retention Indices and their retention rate(s) measured by the Florida Accountability Measure. Student level data was also analyzed using a Nested ANOVA to examine mean differences in CCSSE Retention Index scores of students from different racial and gender groups when accounting for the possible influence of institution attended. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Opportunity and accomplishment are rarely accessed and achieved solely through the efforts of a single individual. While there are many who played a part, either directly or indirectly, aware or unaware of their role in helping me to achieve this milestone, several are particularly noteworthy. It is with gratitude and respect that I acknowledge the contributions of my advisor, Dr. Rosemarye Taylor and committee members, Drs. Debbie Hahs-Vaughn, Grant Hayes and Kenneth Murray whose encouragement, guidance, support and confidence in me were inspiring. I also wish to thank the staff at CCSSE who not only granted permission to use its data set, but were also responsive to questions, both about this study, and also about how my current institution is using the CCSSE for assessment and improvement strategies. Dr. Patricia Windham, Associate Vice Chancellor for Evaluation with the Division of Community Colleges at the Florida Department of Education, was most helpful in providing the datasets for the analyses after permission was granted by CCSSE. My dear Mom and Dad, Frank and Clara Roman, for all they have joyfully given over the years and the sacrifices made to raise our family. Thank you for cultivating an interest and enjoyment of learning, instilling a sense of discipline and conscientiousness, and encouraging me to embrace what life offers with balance and perspective. My brothers and sisters-John, Francis, Karen, Gregory, David, Kevin and Mary Jo-their partners and children, whom I admire for being their unique selves, with their own pursuits and achievements-for also being my teachers. v And finally, I wish to thank Dan. My companion, my friend, my husband, Daniel Dutkofski…now as then, εϋχάρίστω τω θεω περί σου. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES.
DR. MARCiA A. ROMAN serves as the director of student success initiatives at Seminole Community C... more DR. MARCiA A. ROMAN serves as the director of student success initiatives at Seminole Community College (FL). She has nearly 20 years experience in student affairs, having served as the director of career services for a private graduate school in southern California, and as a tenured faculty member responsible for services that span the student life cycle at three different community colleges in Pennsylvania and Florida.
DR. MARCiA A. ROMAN serves as the director of student success initiatives at Seminole Community C... more DR. MARCiA A. ROMAN serves as the director of student success initiatives at Seminole Community College (FL). She has nearly 20 years experience in student affairs, having served as the director of career services for a private graduate school in southern California, and as a tenured faculty member responsible for services that span the student life cycle at three different community colleges in Pennsylvania and Florida.
Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 2010
Institutional and student level data from the Florida Community Colleges were examined to explore... more Institutional and student level data from the Florida Community Colleges were examined to explore the Retention Index of the Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE). A simple correlation and regression analysis was conducted to determine if the CCSSE Retention Index could be used to predict the institutional retention rate calculated for the state accountability measure. Student level data were used with a nested ANOVA to examine if there were mean differences in the CCSSE Retention Index scores of males and females of different racial groups when accounting for the potential influence of the institution attended. Mean differences were examined since differences in retention rates of these groups have been documented.
Uploads
Papers by Marcia Roman