Date of Award

Spring 2012

Degree Type

Masters Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Communication Studies

Committee Chair

Steven Venette

Committee Chair Department

Communication Studies

Committee Member 2

Wendy Atkins-Sayre

Committee Member 2 Department

Communication Studies

Committee Member 3

John Meyer

Committee Member 3 Department

Communication Studies

Abstract

Research indicates that nontradifional students differ from traditional ones in many areas of higher education. Recognizing these differences in this growing population of students could impact retention rates for universities. Also, these differences could influence how communication centers deal with nontraditional students in recruiting them for appointments as well as during tutoring sessions. This study explores possible differences in motivations to use communication centers using both traditional and nontraditional students who had used their university's communication center. Students took a survey based on Ajzen's theory of planned behavior to discover if any differences exist and what the differences are. Findings suggest that the nontraditional and traditional students do not differ in their reasons for using their campus communication center. However, results indicate the most important factor that motivates students to use their communication center is how easily they can schedule and keep an appointment. Findings from this research have implications for both communication centers and universities at large to improve services offered to both traditional and nontraditional students.

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