Supporting Rural Scholars: A Case Study Examining Students' Experiences and Perceptions of Rural Support Programs

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 7:45 am - Gold 2
  In Roundtable Session: Rural Students Reimagined: Identity, Belonging, and Access in Higher Education

Abstract

This study examines how rural support programs affect college adjustment among rural students at a large public university in the southern United States. I use a qualitative case study approach guided by Crumb et al. (2023) rural cultural wealth and Credé & Niehorster (2012) College Adjustment. I examine the question How do rural students experience & perceive rural support programs at a Large Public University? Seven interviews and document analysis revealed three findings: (1) varied salience of rural identity, (2) high levels of rural community and familism, and (3) the opportunity to take off the mask.

Author

• William Redding, University of Georgia