DIFFERENCE IN FIRST SEMESTER GPA AS A FUNCTION OF DUAL CREDIT ENROLLMENT BY ETHNICITY
BRYN BEHNKE
Sam Houston State University, USA.
JOHN R. SLATE *
Sam Houston State University, USA.
ROBERT D. YOUNG JR
Sam Houston State University, USA.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
In this research study, first semester GPAs were analyzed as a function of dual credit enrollment for a community college district in an urbanized area of southeast Texas. Dual credit enrollment and student GPAs were analyzed separately for Asian, White, Hispanic, and Black students. Inferential statistical analyses revealed that, with the exception of Asian students, White, Hispanic, and Black students who had been enrolled in dual credit courses had statistically significantly higher first semester GPAs compared to their ethnic/racial counterparts who had not been enrolled in dual credit courses. Hispanic students who participated in dual credit statistically had a first semester GPA that was 0.52 points higher than Hispanic students who had not participated in dual credit, a moderate effect size. Results of findings and implications for future research are provided.
Keywords: Dual credit, first semester GPA, community college, ethnicity/race, Texas