The Next Step: Preparing Students for More Than Just Work

• In Event: Thursday Roundtable Session 9:00 am
  In Roundtable Session: Learning From Black Students Across Higher Education (Table 30)

Abstract

Although prior research highlights the increase of stress as students near graduation, little research has explored how students manage the transition out of higher education. This study investigated graduating students’ concerns, the emotional impact of those concerns, the discovery of information related to adulting practices, and the potential impact of a curriculum-infused exit program. A sequential explanatory mixed-methods approach was used; quantitative data were collected via a survey (n = 94) which was followed by the collection of qualitative data via semistructured interviews (n = 10) who reported high or low scores on the survey scales.The findings indicate a need for timely exit programming which could impact student wellness, equity between colleges, alumni engagement, and collaboration among faculty and staff.

Author

• Nichole Kea Harken, University of Northern Iowa