Are Men the New At-Risk Student Population?

1. Terry Musser & Doug Wilson 18 September 2013 12th Annual Professional Dev. Conf. on Academic Advising Are Men the New At-Risk Student Population?

2. Introductions • Dr. Terry Musser- • Advising Coordinator for College of Ag Sciences • Ph.D. in Instructional Systems • 28.5 years working at PSU • Doug Wilson- • 3rd Year Ph.D., Penn State Learning, Design, and Technology Department • Research interests include student success and retention, apps for education, higher education • Former community college faculty member and news reporter

3. Agenda • What we think we know about male college students • A Short Video Clip on Gender Differences • Important Research Literature • Theoretical Frameworks • Current Research at Penn State: Gendered Pattern of Student Success • Group Activity • Recommendations • Wrap Up

4. What are our assumptions about male college students? Assumptions:

5. Context Gender Roles Are Changing http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-3445_162-57454755/as-gender-roles-change-are-men-out-of-step/?tag=mncol;lst;1

6. Context What Does the Literature Say? Edwards and Jones (2009): Male college students wear a “mask” to display socially accepted masculine traits and avoid being labeled as feminine; Harris (2008): Males describe acceptable masculine characteristics (respect, integrity) but demonstrate exaggerated stereotypical male behaviors (misogyny, excessive alcohol consumption, homophobia, casual sex); Harris (2010): Men come to college already influenced by: parents, male peer interactions and participation in contact sports; Kahn, Brett & Holmes (2011): men who reject “femininity” by practicing violence and playboy attitudes have lowered academic motivation and those who rejected emotional constraint, homophobia, self-reliance and winning had increased academic motivation; Wimer & Levant, (2011) et. al.: men who conform to masculine norms are less likely to seek academic help;

7. Current research at Penn state on Men At Risk An Examination of FactorsInfluencing Undergraduate Male Student Success and Retention at Penn State - University Park (Wilson & Choi, 2013)

8. Research Question What factors influence academic failure of undergraduate students on the PSU University Park campus? * Definition : failure is defined as earning less than 2.0 cumulative GPA

9. 2. Logistic regression

10. 1. EDA – discrete predictor

11. Discussion & Questions • Gender effect on academic performance of University Park campus students was revealed • Other potential variables were revealed; Ethnicity, Age, College, Enrolled semester, high school GPA, Mother’s education level • High school GPA – gender association • Should not over-generalize the results: Sample size problem • Veteran; only 1 record available • Subsequent research • Qualitative research to find out behind reasons why these variables were influential and confirm whether they have true effect on students’ academic performance

12. 2. Logistic regression • COLLEGE

13. Recommendations How would you begin to address some of the issues raised in this session on your own campus?

14. ActivityGuiding Questions What approaches do you employ when advising male undergraduate students? What is needed to better address the needs of male undergraduate students? How would you raise the profile of this issue on your own campus?

15. Thank you!Q & A