Impact of a Title V funded faculty development initiative on Hispanic course completion and persistence rates in developmental courses at Santa Fe Community College

The purpose of the ex post facto quantitative study was to examine the relationship between HSI Title V funded faculty development and Hispanic student course completion and persistence in developmental level courses at a community college. Because of the concentrated Hispanic population enrolled in remedial education in community colleges, success at the developmental level is critical if Hispanic students are to continue toward degree completion. This research examined the relationship between course completion and persistence rates for Hispanic students and participation of developmental level faculty in Title V funded faculty development activities that were intended to improve Hispanic student retention.;A quantitative research design was used in this study. Public records from the Title V office at the community college in the study were used to gather training information on the faculty participants. Official student records were obtained from the records office at the college. The records collected covered a period between summer 1999 and spring 2002. The sample size was 642 Hispanic students, and included all Hispanic students enrolled in pre- and post- Title V faculty development training courses of developmental level faculty.;The findings showed that there was no statistically significant relationship between Title V faculty development training of developmental education faculty at the college and Hispanic student course completion and persistence in developmental level courses. However, when Hispanic student course completion and persistence rates were compared by specific training episodes, persistence rates varied. The implications of these findings are that the Title V funded faculty development training of developmental level faculty in this study had no positive impact on Hispanic student course completion and persistence rates in developmental level courses at SFCC. The study includes recommendations and suggestions for future research.