Date of Award
Summer 8-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
D.S.W. Social work
Department
Social Work
First Advisor
Dr. Janice Gasker
Second Advisor
Dr. John Vafeas
Third Advisor
Dr. Mauricia John
Abstract
Academic persistence of rural students in higher education remains a growing concern as institutions across the United States seek to address changing patterns and trends in enrollment and graduation rates, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. National trends show a relatively small increase in rural student enrollment. However, significant disparities in persistence and degree completion continue to exist between rural student populations and their urban and suburban counterparts. This study examines the factors that influence persistence among undergraduate social work students, specifically focusing on students from public, mid-sized universities in West Texas. Using a quantitative approach, the study explores the relationship between student persistence and variables such as perceived stress, rural versus non-rural designation, race, gender, socioeconomic status, interpersonal support, and access to technology. The findings from this study contribute to a deeper understanding of factors influencing undergraduate students' decisions to persist to the next academic semester within their social work programs. This study aims to inform how to increase degree attainment and enhance support services for social work students, focusing on rural populations. Given the growing demand for social work practitioners, understanding their educational decisions in their journey toward degree completion is essential for advancing professional practice and addressing service shortages in rural communities.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Perales, Samantha, "Academic Persistence and Rural Social Work Students: An Analysis of Factors Impacting Decisions to Persist" (2025). Social Work Doctoral Dissertations. 46.
https://research.library.kutztown.edu/socialworkdissertations/46
