Author: Jacquelyn R. Jones

Publisher:

Published: 2014

Total Pages: 155

ISBN-13:

The purpose of this study was (a) to provide an analysis of the levels of college self-efficacy and of the campus environmental perceptions of African American males at rural, urban, and suburban two- year community colleges in the state of Ohio and (b) to determine whether there was a statistically significant relationship between college self-efficacy, campus environmental perceptions, and academic achievement at these types of community colleges (rural, urban, and suburban) in Ohio. Further, the study examined whether academic achievement could be predicted from academic self-efficacy and campus environmental perceptions at community colleges in the state of Ohio. Descriptive statistics and a chi-squared analysis were employed in this study to determine that respondents were representative of the entire population or sample. A correlational analysis revealed a statistically significant positive correlation between college self-efficacy and campus environment. This correlation suggests that students who perceive a more positive environment tend to have higher college self-efficacy. A statistically significant positive correlation also was found between college environment and two specific dimensions of college efficacy: course efficacy and social efficacy. Multiple regression analysis revealed that college self-efficacy is a significant predictor of expected GPA among African American males in two- year community colleges, but college environment was not a statistically significant predictor. Results of the regression analysis also indicated that course self-efficacy and social self-efficacy (the two components of college self-efficacy) were statistically significant predictors of expected GPA, but college environment was not. Results of the regression analysis revealed that college self-efficacy was a statistically significant predictor of past-term GPA, but college environment was not. Neither course self-efficacy nor college environment predicted past-term GPA, whereas social self-efficacy and college environment were statistically significant predictors of past-term GPA. Additionally, results of the regression analysis showed that the interaction was not statistically significant, meaning that the influence of campus environment on academic achievement did not vary based on the level of course efficacy or on the two components of college self-efficacy (course self-efficacy and social self-efficacy) among African American males in two-year community colleges. Results of this study suggest that student affairs practitioners, administrators, faculty members, and policymakers should be present as role models for African American male community college students. Results also suggest that administrators (especially those who pair African American male students with faculty mentors) should focus on increasing the college self-efficacy of this particular student population.