Date of Award
8-2021
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Department
Executive Leadership
First Supervisor
Carla Smith, Ed.D.
Second Supervisor
Angela Rios, Ed.D.
Abstract
The purpose of this qualitative research study was to examine how nontraditional students enrolled in community colleges perceive their internship experience from preenrollment to completion. While adult learning theory suggests that experiential learning is a good fit for nontraditional students, it is unknown to what degree nontraditional student characteristics interfere with their engagement in such, or if experiential learning improves nontraditional student persistence. Interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) was utilized to understand the study participants’ lived experiences of internship participation as well as how, if at all, situational or institutional factors impacted their internship engagement. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with four nontraditional students who had completed a semester-long, paid internship while enrolled in community college in the northeastern United States. Several themes emerged as commonly shared by the participants. All four participants demonstrated a focus on career attainment as well as multiple examples of interrole conflict. Online access, flexibility in scheduling, and personal support were identified as key factors in interrole conflict mitigation. In addition, the value of gaining workplace experience and perception of enhanced employability were found to supersede other potential benefits of internship participation, for example compensation or credit accrual, for each study participant. Recommendations for future research include an exploration of internship and academic programs designed specifically for adult learners as well as a cost-benefit analysis of such programs. Additional research regarding online delivery of internship programs and related services is also recommended.
Recommended Citation
Ceng, Kathleen, "Perceptions of Internship Participation by Nontraditional Students Enrolled in Community College" (2021). Education Doctoral. Paper 496.
https://fisherpub.sjf.edu/education_etd/496
Please note that the Recommended Citation provides general citation information and may not be appropriate for your discipline. To receive help in creating a citation based on your discipline, please visit http://libguides.sjfc.edu/citations.