Evaluation of the Relationship Between Employee Engagement and Student Engagement and Student Retention at a Large, Private, Not-for-Profit Research University

Author

Jacqueline Anne Travisano, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow

Date of Award

2016

Document Type

Dissertation - NSU Access Only

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education

Advisor

Barbara Packer-Muti

Committee Member

Meline Kevorkian

Keywords

Persistence, Academic Achievement, Individual Needs, Personnel Needs, Student Needs

Abstract

Research on employee engagement revealed a positive correlation between employee engagement and positive business outcomes. Within a university setting, positive business outcomes can be measured and demonstrated through higher-than-benchmarked employee engagement, student engagement, and student retention. To effect these desired outcomes, the literature revealed the need for employees to work together; to be fully invested in their work; and to advance the university’s mission, vision, and core values towards positive student success outcomes.

There is a full complement of research regarding employee engagement, student retention, and student engagement as specific topics within the literature. A deficiency in the literature existed concerning the correlation of these topics as one body of research. This study examined these interrelated topics within a large, private, not-for-profit research university setting.

Principal components analysis and logistical regression were used to determine the relationship between student engagement and student retention, the relationship between employee engagement and student retention, and to determine if employee engagement and student engagement predict student retention. Study results suggested that student engagement alone was not a statistically significant factor in predicting retention at the research setting. However, employee engagement was associated with student retention at the university level. When analyzed together, both student engagement and employee engagement were revealed as a statistically significant predictor of student retention at the university level.

NSUWorks Citation

Jacqueline Anne Travisano. 2016. Evaluation of the Relationship Between Employee Engagement and Student Engagement and Student Retention at a Large, Private, Not-for-Profit Research University. Doctoral dissertation. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education. (30)
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/fse_etd/30.