| The impact of failing to earn a college degree can have substantial economic impact on individuals, states, and the Nation. However, certain college courses, including college algebra, may be barriers to degree completion. Community colleges are uniquely positioned to play a pivotal role in the effort to increase students' success in degree attainment because they enroll high percentages of the Nation's students who are under-represented in degree attainment, including students of color and academically under-prepared students.;Therefore the purpose of this study was to determine whether a relationship existed between student characteristics and successful course completion of college algebra at a community college in southeast Texas. Participants in this study were selected through purposive sampling. Data from community college students (n = 134) who had completed an intermediate algebra course by earning a C or higher and a score of 50 or higher on the outcomes assessment test during May 2010 and enrolled in a college algebra course within one calendar year were included in this study. Student characteristics included (a) ethnicity, (b) age, (c) gender, (d) previous enrollment in a developmental course, (e) final grade in intermediate algebra, and (f) outcomes assessment score in intermediate algebra. Success was defined as earning a final grade of an A, B, or C in college algebra. Nonsuccess was defined as having a final grade of D or F, or withdrawing from the course. Descriptive statistical data were calculated, as well as descriptive discriminant analyses. |
