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Abstract

Project Mentor(s): Pamela McMullin-Messier, Bernadette Jungblut

Completing college is no easy feat. All higher education has barriers and obstacles students must face and overcome. Observations have been used to gather various student perspectives that have been compiled alongside research in the field to create a picture of what student barriers look like at Central Washington University specifically. Some of these barriers include navigating academic requirements, challenges with academic advisors, unique challenges first-generation students face, and financial challenges including balancing employment and academics. Within the personal lives of students, there are several internal factors that impact their success such as their persistence, grit, and stress levels. All aspects work together to impact student well-being and student success. As an institution, there are ways to improve conditions that impact student success. Academic advising is a critical part of a student’s ability to complete their degree. Training advisors to be able to accurately answer student questions or to direct students to the right department or resources to assist them is one way this barrier to student success can be improved. Integrating financial literacy learning into beginning student classes can be one way to aid students in learning to manage the additional financial stressors that come with moving to college. Individual experiences are at the core of student success and retention, which is why individual student perspectives are the most important ones to gather. This study aims to produce suggested solutions for institutional change to help improve student success and outcomes.

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