“Not the Kind of Student I Am”: College Students’ Expression of Agency in Academic Appeals

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Wednesday 2:30 pm Four Seasons Ballroom 4
  In Roundtable Session: Empowering Voices: Equity and Agency in Higher Education (Table 3)

Abstract

Students who are academically suspended from an institution are often invited to explain their circumstances in an appeal letter, addressing what had happened and what will change. This study used a content analysis approach to examine 81 students’ academic suspension appeals letters to understand their expressed sense of agency. We found students demonstrated some degree of agency and responsibility but failed to realize their potential as agents. Students linked their identities to their intended academic plans and timelines, often describing academic suspension as an identity threat. We discuss implications for policy, practice, and future research as supporting students in their academic journey is essential to college completion.

Author

• Elizabeth A. Rainey, Loyola University New Orleans