The Influence of Working on Undergraduate Student Involvement and Grade Point Average

• In Event: 44.084 - Roundtable Session 18
  In Roundtable Session: 44.084-7 - How Student Engagement Mediates Student Success

Abstract

Due to the rising cost of college tuition and disinvestments from higher education, the cost of earning an undergraduate degree has shifted responsibility more to students. The purpose of this paper is to explore the influence of working on undergraduate student involvement and grade point average. Results from our study demonstrate that compared to students who do not work, students who work participate in more academic, co-curricular, and residence hall involvements, utilize more university resource, hold more leadership positions, and are more civically engaged. After controlling for involvements, students who work 20 or more hours per week have lower GPAs than students who do not work.

Authors

• Jason C. Garvey, University of Vermont

• Laura A Sanders, The University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa

• Keely Latopolski, The University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa

• Sarah Elizabeth Wever, The University of Alabama