Date of Award
5-1-2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ed.D. in Education
First Advisor
Macey Edmondson
Second Advisor
Jenay Willis
Third Advisor
George McClellan
School
University of Mississippi
Relational Format
dissertation/thesis
Abstract
Colleges and universities have a primary goal of providing quality education to their students with the hope that those students go on to make positive contributions to society. While many people tend to credit classroom learning for those societal contributions, an argument can be made that supplementary experiences are just as valuable. At Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU), a small, public Historically Black College/University in the Mississippi Delta area, student engagement initiatives are of extreme importance for first-year students. Students at MVSU face several challenges including college readiness, ability to afford college, and desire to persist and earn their degrees. Together, these factors strongly affect students’ ability to earn a college education. With that said, pre-existing literature supports the idea that student engagement is key to helping students gain a sense of belonging at their respective institutions, which increases the probability that they will go on to earn their degree. This study aims to explore MVSU first-year students’ perceptions of the impact of the first-year experience program on their sense of belonging. Background information is included in this research, describing the history and operations of MVSU to help readers understand the importance of this study. Additionally, recommendations are made to provide MVSU with ideas on further supporting student sense of belonging through the first-year experience program.
Recommended Citation
Freeman, Jordan, "Exploring Mississippi Valley State University’s First-Year Experience Program: Students’ Perceptions of Its Impact on Their Sense of Belonging" (2026). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 8817.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/8817