Semester

Spring

Date of Graduation

2010

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

College

Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design

Department

Agricultural & Extension Education

Committee Chair

Harry N. Boone, Jr.

Abstract

Motivations take on different forms and strengths. There are many goals that students reach for, especially graduating with a degree. Throughout the years many individuals lose interest or get side tracked. The purpose of this study was to look at the many factors that motivate students to begin their education at West Virginia University, and the reasons that they stay. The study was limited to 320 students enrolled in the Agricultural and Extension Education courses 101, 110 and 220 for the 2010 spring semester. The final set of useable surveys numbered 281 (90.9%). The students were presented an online survey, which was broken into five separate sections. Many of the findings included that the students' perceptions of the atmosphere at WVU encouraged students to pursue higher education. The study also found that the financial security that higher education provides is a determining factor to their pursing a college degree.

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