Case Study: Gantry Group Scholar Year Program
How does Scholar Year help students in unique University contexts?
the challenge.
The Gantry Group wanted to know if their program, Scholar Year, helped boost enrollment and retention at Brigham Young University.
The Gantry Group commissioned researchers to develop a report to better understand the experiences of first-generation college students participating in the Scholar Year program at Brigham Young University. Although the program has been successfully implemented across various university spaces, the unique culture and resources of each setting shape participants' experiences differently.
the context.
Academic success can be influenced by external factors such as minority status, culture, and socioeconomic status
First-generation and low-income university students face significant barriers to success, including limited familiarity with the higher education system and cultural pressures that discourage seeking support. Students working to support themselves also struggle with limited time for academic engagement, reducing their opportunities for success.
Access to both bridging social capital—providing resources and opportunities—and bonding social capital—offering emotional support and a sense of belonging—can help students overcome these challenges. Programs like Scholar Year address these needs by offering financial assistance, fostering supportive networks, and creating opportunities for peer engagement. These efforts help improve retention and academic achievement by strengthening both types of social capital.
Unique to many of the other participating universities, Brigham Young University, maintains a strong religious culture and low tuition costs. These factors introduce different context to barriers faced by student participants of the program, thereby warranting examination.
the solutions.
Our researchers conducted in-depth interviews with both participants and their parents.
Researchers conducted open ended interviews with both the program participants and their parents. This allowed them to capture experiences and perceptions of both parties that may fall outside of the expected responses.
These interviews were then analyzed and similar responses were categorized to identify common themes in student and parent experiences.
what we delivered.
Our report identified the unique challenges faced by students and recommendations to address them.
This study established a framework to identify the challenges faced by first-generation students and evaluated the effectiveness of the Gantry Group program at BYU using both quantitative and qualitative data. The resulting report provided robust evidence for key stakeholders, including participants and donors, to enhance the program’s sustainability and long-term success at the university. Additionally, the findings offered a generalizable framework adaptable to other contexts, broadening the program's potential impact.