Off-campus UNL users: To download campus access dissertations, please use the following link to log into our proxy server with your NU ID and password. When you are done browsing please remember to return to this page and log out.

Non-UNL users: Please talk to your librarian about requesting this dissertation through interlibrary loan.

Value and contribution of the participation in intercollegiate athletics on the personal development of community college-aged students

Michele Gill, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to better understand the value of the extracurricular experience for college students. Gaining insight into the variety of opportunities for student personal development as a result of participation in intercollegiate athletics and extracurricular activities during college is explored by this study. Quality student engagement activities and understanding the reasons for engagement contributing to personal development continues to be valuable information in development of student on campus programming at colleges and universities. This qualitative study takes a phenomenological approach to describe the experiences of students involved in intercollegiate athletics competition at a small rural serving community college in the Midwest. Through a series of semi-structured interviews of at least (n = 14), students tell their stories of personal development and the contributions that intercollegiate athletics made to their out-of-class experiences. Findings of this study indicate that the participants valued their experiences in participating in intercollegiate athletics, reporting the development of personal pride and a greater sense of self-identity. For the participants in this study, intercollegiate athletics provided an opportunity for increased student engagement and thus contributed to the overall campus environment.

Subject Area

Educational leadership

Recommended Citation

Gill, Michele, "Value and contribution of the participation in intercollegiate athletics on the personal development of community college-aged students" (2015). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI3689180.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI3689180

Share

COinS