Publication Date
8-2025
Date of Final Oral Examination (Defense)
6-18-2025
Type of Culminating Activity
Dissertation
Degree Title
Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction
Department
Curriculum, Instruction and Foundational Studies
Supervisory Committee Chair
Keith Thiede, Ph.D.
Supervisory Committee Member
Katie Conley, Ph.D.
Supervisory Committee Member
Chris Hyer, Ed.D.
Abstract
This dissertation examines the effectiveness of TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) programs at Boise State University in promoting academic success of first-generation college students, students from financially limited backgrounds, and students with documented disabilities. Using a quantitative, quasi-experimental design, a secondary data analysis was completed to compare fall-to-fall retention rates, four-year graduation rates, and six-year graduation rates between TRIO SSS participants and a matched comparison group of non-participants with similar demographic and academic characteristics. Grounded in the theoretical frameworks of Appreciative Advising, self-efficacy theory, sense of belonging, student involvement theory, and student persistence models, this study adds to the existing literature on student support programs that promote equity and inclusion through practical, data-informed examination of what works for first-generation, limited-income, and disabled college students. Compared to matched nonparticipants, TRIO SSS students demonstrated significantly higher retention with moderate to large effects and smaller but significant effects on six-year graduation rates across nearly all subgroups, particularly for first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented students, supporting the program’s effectiveness in promoting long-term student success. These findings are intended to inform institutional decision-making and enhance the design and implementation of support services that promote persistence, increase graduation rates, and reduce disparities in student outcomes.
DOI
10.18122/td.2396.boisestate
Recommended Citation
Brevik, Ryan, "Bridging the Gap: Evaluating the Effectiveness of TRIO Student Support Services in Promoting Retention, Persistence, and Graduation at Boise State University" (2025). Boise State University Theses and Dissertations. 2396.
10.18122/td.2396.boisestate