Barriers to Enrollment in Colleges of Agriculture: Perspectives of Currently Enrolled Students at 1862 Land-Grant Institutions
Open Access
- Author:
- Smith-Hollins, CherRhonda M
- Graduate Program:
- Agricultural and Extension Education
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- February 23, 2009
- Committee Members:
- Connie Devine Baggett, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor
Connie Devine Baggett, Committee Chair/Co-Chair
Patreese Donette Ingram, Committee Chair/Co-Chair
Rama B Radhakrishna, Committee Member
Cynthia Pellock, Committee Member - Keywords:
- Barriers to Enrollment
Enrollment barriers
1862 land grant institutions
College of Agriculture
Higher Education - Abstract:
- The purpose of the study was to identify and describe perceived barriers to enrollment by currently enrolled students in colleges of agriculture at 1862 land grant institutions. A secondary purpose of this study was to identify knowledge of agriculture and careers related to agriculture prior to a student’s enrollment in the college of agriculture. This study also identified and described demographic characteristics of students enrolled in colleges of agriculture at select 1862 land grant institutions. The population of the study included currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students at 1862 land grant institutions in the southern Cooperative Extension System region. A five-part survey instrument was developed to collect data. The survey collected data regarding awareness of agriculture careers and related programs, barriers to enrollment, and influencers on one’s decision to enroll in a college of agriculture or choose a career related to agriculture. Usable responses yielded a return rate of 76.2% or 1,168 respondents. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. The majority of respondents were White/Caucasian females who grew up in suburban areas. Both males and females indicated that personal influences such as a parent, close relative, or friends had low influence on their decision to enroll in a college of agriculture. School related influences such as a high school counselor or agriculture science teacher also had no or very low influence on their decision to enroll in a college of agriculture. Respondents who indicated having a family member involved in an agriculture career or lifestyle were most likely to be influenced by those closest to them when choosing to enroll in a college of agriculture. When asked who influenced their decision to choose a career related to agriculture, responses almost mirrored the responses to who influenced their decision to enroll in a college of agriculture. Perceived barriers to enrollment indicated by currently enrolled students were “lack of discussion from high school guidance counselor, lack of contact with recruiters in agriculture, and lack of promotional materials about agriculture.” While none of these barriers were reported as very much a barrier to their enrollment in a college of agriculture, they ranked in the top three, respectively. Barriers were felt more by non-white respondents when compared to white respondents. Awareness of programs/organizations and careers related to agriculture produced similar results. Whites by far were more aware of programs in agriculture than non-whites, while whites and non-whites seemed quite similar in their awareness of career opportunities related to agriculture. Both groups seemed to be more aware of traditional agriculture related careers when compared to those careers that are not traditionally thought of as agriculture related. Given the findings from this study, it is recommended that administrators in colleges of agriculture focus on educating students, parents and high school personnel about the vast career opportunities available in agriculture and related fields. In addition to educating about the opportunities in agriculture, it is further recommended that a best practice detailing appropriate strategies for the recruitment and retention of students in colleges of agriculture be developed at 1862 land grant institutions to not only increase enrollment but to also eliminate perceived barriers to enrollment in a college of agriculture.