PDA Event: The Path Is Not Linear: Understanding Student Success Through Developmental Vectors
How do students’ definitions and experiences of student success evolve over time, and how do they make sense of that development? This webinar presents findings from a qualitative study in which undergraduate students were interviewed to examine how they develop their own understandings and definitions of student success. Inspired by Chickering’s use of vectors in his theory of student identity development, as well as findings from a previous study on student success definitions, the researcher identified six “student success development vectors.” These vectors illustrate how students define, understand, and experience student success in non-sequential ways.
Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how students perceive and experience student success and will explore strategies for using these vectors to create equitable and inclusive library environments for students.
Presenter:
María Emerson is the student success librarian at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She earned her BA in Spanish and International Studies at Hope College, and her MLIS at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Her research grows out of her work at small colleges and now a Big Ten school on how academic libraries can support a sense of belonging in students. María’s other research interests include multiracial students, basic need support, and exploring how students perceive what student success means in higher education.
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