Open AccessExploring the “At-Risk” Student Label Through the Perspectives of Higher Education Professionals
Author(s) -
Nick Dix,
Andrew Jacob Lail,
Matthew Birnbaum,
Joseph H. Paris
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
the qualitative report
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.335
H-Index - 35
ISSN - 2160-3715
DOI - 10.46743/2160-3715/2020.3371
Subject(s) - higher education , thematic analysis , psychology , qualitative research , medical education , pedagogy , sociology , medicine , political science , social science , law
Institutions of higher education often use the term “at-risk” to label undergraduate students who have a higher likelihood of not persisting. However, it is not clear how the use of this label impacts the perspectives of the higher education professionals who serve and support these students. Our qualitative study explores the descriptions and understandings of higher education professionals who serve and support at-risk students. We use thematic analysis (Braun & Clark, 2006) to interpret our data and develop our themes. These themes include conflicting views of the “at-risk” definition, attempts to normalize at-risk, fostering relationships, and “at-promise.”