Student support in higher education: campus service utilization, impact, and challenges

Chithira Johnson; Rizwan Gitay; Abdel-Salam G Abdel-Salam; Ahmed BenSaid; Radwa Ismail; Rusol Adil Naji Al-Tameemi; Michael H Romanowski; Batoul Mohamad Kazem Al Fakih; Khalifa Al Hazaa

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e12559

Student support in higher education: campus service utilization, impact, and challenges

Heliyon. 2022 Dec 22;8(12):e12559. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e12559. eCollection 2022 Dec.

Authors

Chithira Johnson¹, Rizwan Gitay², Abdel-Salam G Abdel-Salam³, Ahmed BenSaid⁴, Radwa Ismail⁵, Rusol Adil Naji Al-Tameemi⁶, Michael H Romanowski⁷, Batoul Mohamad Kazem Al Fakih⁸, Khalifa Al Hazaa⁹

Affiliations

¹ Advisory, Student Experience Department, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
² Senior Retention Specialist, Academic Advising Cente, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
³ Associate Professor of Statistics and Head of Student Data Management-Vice President for Student Experience Department, Student Affairs Sector, VPSA Office, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
⁴ Senior Data Analyst, Student Data Management-Student Experience Department, Student Affairs Sector, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
⁵ Master Student of Applied Statistics and Graduate Assistant -Student Experience Department, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
⁶ Student Experience Department, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
⁷ Professor Educational Research Center College of Education Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
⁸ Graduate Assistant, Student Experience Department, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
⁹ Director of Student Experience Department, Vice President for Student Affairs Office, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.

Abstract

Worldwide, university student support services facilitate student performance, contribute to students' success, and increase students' chances of degree completion. Student support services programs' success depends on students' help-seeking behavior. This study explores the help-seeking behavior of Foundation Program and Undergraduate students at Qatar University (QU) through their use of campus services to better understand students' use of these services. The study examines the association between help-seeking behavior, as indicated through services, on student success and persistence in two consecutive semesters, Spring 2019 and Fall 2019. Findings report a significant association between students' services and student success and persistence. A significant difference was reported between at-risk students' majors and at-risk students in STEM and non-STEM majors. Also, there was a difference in the help-seeking behavior among males and females, nationals and non-nationals, and student classifications.

Keywords: At-risk students; Campus services; STEM; Student support.