Date of Award
Spring 2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Department
Education Policy, Planning, and Administration
Committee Chairperson
Heather Schugar, PhD
Committee Member
Francis Atuahene, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Tina Chiarelli- Helminiak, PhD
Abstract
Students of low socioeconomic status are a growing demographic in higher education, in part because of historical advances which provided more access to this population. To afford their education, as well as necessities, students of low socioeconomic status usually need to work while earning their degree. Higher education institutions are often not structured to support students of low socioeconomic status (Lee, 2024). The purpose of this qualitative, narrative inquiry was to examine the stories of employed undergraduate students of low socioeconomic status, while also studying their motivation for working while in college. The data for this study was collected through one demographics questionnaire, writing prompt, and semi-structured interview for each of the eight employed undergraduate student participants who self-identified as Pell-eligible. The study used Tinto’s Theory of Student Departure (1987) and Deci and Ryan’s Self-Determination Theory (2000) as the theoretical framework to guide the interpretation of the results. The study found the major factors influencing the employment experiences of the Pell-eligible participants were: financial stress, schedule, mental health, student involvement, and supervision. The major factors influencing participant motivation to work were: finances, planning for the future, position modality, altruism, and concern for self-image. Results from this research may provide higher education practitioners with insight into the student employment experience for students of low socioeconomic status so they can better support students who work. Additionally, the research provides reasons for motivation which higher education professionals can use to help retain students in their roles.
Recommended Citation
Ruggiero-Patel, Jennifer, "“I’m Doing Good for Her”: Stories Examining the Employment Experiences of Undergraduate Students with Pell-Eligibility" (2025). West Chester University Doctoral Projects. 310.
https://digitalcommons.wcupa.edu/all_doctoral/310