An analysis of Support Services for Female Students at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

This study evaluates strategies for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to support and retain its increasing proportion of female students on its residential campuses. At 20% of the Daytona/Prescott student body, females are still a distinct minority. This research identifies ways in which the university can address the needs of these students in the areas of academics, housing, support services, and other resources in order to benefit the overall student population, but more distinctly help female students successfully complete their degree programs in an environment they feel secure in. The research includes dozens of on-campus interviews with students, as well as a review of the literature on campus gender issues. The findings suggest that housing and the issues that come with co-ed floors have the least effect on the students, not overly affecting how females feel about the university and its support, whereas academics and resources were equally an issue, greatly affecting how the students felt towards the university. Based on these findings, it is recommended that Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University expand its orientation for students each year to encompass speakers solely for the females on campus, create more female-specific clubs and organizations, and hold events for the women on campus with female professors