Date of Award
Spring 5-16-2018
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science - Agriculture
Department
Agriculture
First Advisor
Dr. Joey Bray
Second Advisor
Dr. Rob McDermand
Third Advisor
Dr. John Mehaffey
Fourth Advisor
Mrs. Emily Payne
Abstract
This qualitative research study focuses on the effectiveness of the athletic academic mentoring and advising program at Stephen F. Austin State University and its potential to replicate a similar program in the agriculture program. With emphasis on increasing the effectiveness of the current mentoring program, increasing student retention in agriculture, and improving the transition for high school students going into college, this study utilizes a questionnaire comprised of seven questions to determine how 14 former and current student-athletes that were enrolled in agriculture felt about the mentoring program and agriculture department. Many of the challenges faced by students, such as the high school transition and performing academically could be prevented or reduced if the students have a mentor that has already completed college or are further along in their degree than the students’ they mentor. This study details the positives and negative aspects to the athletic academic mentoring program and the Department of Agriculture based on the results of the questionnaire sent to the student-athletes who were involved in both of them. The mentoring program and suggested implementation of a mentoring program to the agriculture department will improve students’ academic performance, coping strategies, social awareness and retention. The completion of the study proved that former and current student-athletes that were enrolled in agriculture courses, felt that the athletic academic mentoring program helped them transition into college and perform well in many of their courses.
Repository Citation
Cates, Nick, "Student Athlete Retention and Performance in Agriculture: An Analysis of a Mentorship Program" (2018). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 182.
https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/182
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
