Five Year Evaluation of the Student Diversity Program: A Retrospective Quasi-Experiment

Abstract

The Student Diversity Program (SDP) initially delivered academic and social support to Black student athletes, but expanded to include a more diverse group of students at risk of disqualification. To assess whether this program increased retention, we examined graduation rates and ending GPAs of students in four SDP cohorts from 1994 and 1995 ( n = 39), comparing them to matched students who were not in the program ( n = 434), over five years of academic progress. We matched these comparison students on semester of enrollment in CSUF, ethnic group, sex, age, transfer status (FTF or Transfer), and cumulative GPA at the end of their first semester. SDP students graduated at twice the rate of the comparable students after five years. SDP student's GPA of last record was not however different from that of comparison students. It appears that the Student Diversity Program achieves its goal of delivering academic support, and is effective not only with Black athletes but with a more diverse group of at-risk students as well.