ERIC Number: ED638057
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2021
Pages: 158
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 979-8-3801-0538-5
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Perceptions of Access and Status among Undergraduate Business Students
Jana K. Lithgow
ProQuest LLC, Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Fraternal organizations have existed on campus since the founding of Phi Beta Kappa in 1776 (Baird, 1991; DeSantis, 2007; "Phi Beta Kappa," n.d.; Thelin, 2011; Torbenson, 2005, 2009). Empirical evidence shows that membership brings added value to an undergraduate student experience (Biddix et al., 2014; G. D. Kuh & Lyons, 1990). However, there is also scholarship indicating that fraternal organizations often emphasize socializing over academics while their members participate in overt racism, sexism, and exclusivity (Brubacher & Rudy, 1976; Maisel, 1990). This study examined undergraduate business student access and status using Astin's theory of student involvement (A. W. Astin, 1984) and Bourdieu's concept of habitus and theory of social reproduction (Bourdieu, 1977). Using a phenomenological approach, the study was conducted within the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This study identified aspects of the student experience, including professional development, student involvement, and status, that were influenced by professional business fraternity membership. Furthermore, this study revealed the influence of access and support on undergraduate business students' experiences. These findings suggest that business fraternities play a significant role in the undergraduate student experience within highly selective business schools. Implications for theory and research include disrupting social reproduction on college campuses, while implications for policy and practice highlight opportunities within student services, diversity and inclusion, oversight, and collaborative practices. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Undergraduate Students, Business Administration Education, Fraternities, Student Organizations, Student Participation, Business Schools, Professional Development, Status, Access to Education, Selective Admission
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Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Illinois (Urbana); Illinois (Champaign)
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