Contemporary discussions of higher education: International students and their persistence

Terrell, Erica Chalise

Item

Contemporary discussions of higher education: International students and their persistence

Terrell, Erica Chalise

Date

2025-05-30

Abstract

The persistence of international students is related to the factors that motivate them to continue in college. The purpose of this dissertation study was to understand how international students persist. Support for motivation was addressed by examining the connection between the two theories of Sense of Belonging and Validation (Baumeister & Leary,1995; Rendὸn, 1994). Literature points to the persistence of international students as being related to their academic and social integration on campus (Alqadiri, 2024; Bean & Eaton, 2000; Kamran & Awan, 2024). Persistence theory supports the role of the university in fostering institutional commitment but lacks the acknowledgment of the cultural differences students may bring to the college environment. Using interpretive phenomenology, this study addressed international student persistence. 5 international students who were enrolled in Central University (Central, a four-year, not-for-profit private institution in North Texas were interviewed. The major themes of (a) what impacts international student persistence, (b) the American college experience, (c) academic and social constructs, (d) the nature of sense of belonging, and (e) validation in action help to define persistence for international students.