Parental involvement: the impact on underserved students' transition into higher education

Thesis (M.A., Education (Higher Education Leadership))--California State University, Sacramento, 2012.The focus of this study is to examine parental involvement and the role it plays in increasing college enrollment, performance, and graduation and of historically underserved and underrepresented students. It will look at what ways cultural norms and/or expectations can impact the levels of parental involvement and how society at large defines and interprets the presence of parental involvement or the lack thereof. Additionally, it will examine in what ways cultural barriers inhibit an underrepresented student from pursuing higher education. The study will discuss the importance of parents of color having ???college knowledge??? and the understanding of college requirements and terms, as well as how to navigate the college preparation process, which can begin as early as middle school. The study will determine how low-income or minority parents??? knowledge of such college-related issues and navigation processes influence the rates at which their students apply to and enroll at four-year universities. Lastly, this paper will look at the impact that a parent???s level of education may have on a historically disadvantaged student???s desire to consider or actually pursue post-secondary education. It seeks to determine if a parent has little or no college education, does that motivate or hinder a student of color in his or her desire to attend a college or university.\ud The survey yielded 32 respondents, of which over 78% identified themselves as either a member of an underrepresented ethnic group or the first in their family to attend college. Nearly 95% of these students were enrolled full-time (12 or more units) and close to 82% were receiving some sort of financial assistance. All participants were Sacramento area residents, reporting graduation from a Sacramento area high school.\ud Parental involvement, regardless of the definition, has an impact on underserved students??? transition into higher education. For many, it is positively related to a student???s persistence and belief in his/her own individual abilities. The data from students who participated in an early academic support program during high school showed that they were able to acquire a firmer comprehension of how the university works and what services are available to them to assist in academic, career and financial planning. Student respondents enrolled in EOP Learning Community/Freshman Seminar courses who responded to the survey showed a significantly high (