A multiple case study analysis of student-athlete academic and social successes in rural-serving Texas community colleges

There is an increasing gender gap in the success levels of students in higher education. This gap can be seen in both academic and social settings at both the two and four-year level. Institutions of higher education are exploring ways to help increase student success, which commonly are defined by GPA’s, graduation rates and transfer rates. In the social realm, this success is being measured in terms of student engagement role conflict and perceptions of diversity within their immediate environments. The purpose of this study was to explore gender differences in perceptions of the collegiate environment of student-athletes at rural-serving Texas community colleges. Specific attention was given to their perceptions on student success in athletic and social realms. It was necessary to explore the views of the participants and to specifically investigate how each of them defined success in their academic and social environments as community college student-athletes and coaches.
Using a qualitative research approach, a multiple case study design allowed the participants to share their thoughts within their natural environment and provide personal insight into their experiences as community college student-athletes and coaches. Kegan’s Orders of Consciousness (1994) provided the theoretical framework for the study. Participants for the study included six student-athletes from rural-serving community colleges, three males and three females, as well as two coaching participants from the same institutions as the student-athletes. The coaching participants consisted of one from a male sport and one from a female sport. Data was collected from the participants using semi-structured interviews, observations, field notes and documents. The analysis process included open and axial coding of the data in order to produce relevant themes of their experiences. Trustworthiness was also addressed in the study by using methods that included triangulation of data, member checking and peer review. The findings of this study presented both similarities and differences in the experiences, perceptions, and approaches of female and male community college student-athletes. Female student-athletes from the study were found to place more importance on the social aspects of their college environment such as new relationships with faculty and friends, non-athletic extra-curricular activities, and time management skills. Additionally, female student-athletes demonstrated a concerted effort to create and maintain a positive outlook for both their academic and athletic environments more so than did male student-athletes. Differences also existed between the two genders’ approaches in academic and social environments. Specifically, female student-athletes placed more emphasis on their academic preparation and academic structure as well as viewing social success as an individual concept rather than a group concept, than did male student-athletes. Similarities existed in the way female and male student athletes perceived success in their academic environment specifically expressing it as an individual living up to their personal capabilities.
The results of this study have presented several implications and recommendations for higher education practice. Community colleges have long maintained a goal of providing a holistic learning environment for all students. In this study, both female and male student-athletes demonstrated an adequate understanding of what it means to be academically successful. However, improvements that should be looked at are to continue and improve the increased efforts to provide adequate personal counseling programs through the department of student services. These programs should cover various topics but specifically address the needs to properly navigate time management issues as they relate to the proper balance between personal, social, academic and athletic challenges.
The findings have also lead to the need for future research in the areas of student-athlete approaches to the college experience, specifically with large-scale studies in multiple Texas community colleges. These studies should include an examination of student service support programs in the areas of time management, academic planning, social behavior and professional considerations.