THE EFFECTS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND A SINGLE GENDER LEARNING COMMUNITY ON THE SUCCESS OF FIRST YEAR COLLEGE MALES

by Taylor, Cory D.

Since the 1970’s and the passing of Title IX of the educational amendments to the Civil rights Act of 1964, the gender demographic at American colleges and universities has changed dramatically. Today the average American college or university is over 57% female, a number that is projected to exceed 60% by 2020. In addition to the fact that in comparison to their female counterparts, less male students are coming to college, we are also seeing that once in college, male students are less likely to persist through to graduation. This study investigated the effects of weekly physical activity within the context of a first-year freshman seminar experience as well as the effects of an all-male classroom experience. The students at a medium sized public state university voluntarily registered for a first-year experience learning community. There were multiple options available in respect to their learning community seminar including single gender or coeducational as well as sections with or without an added recreational component. This study is an ex post-facto investigation of the academic successes of these male students in their first collegiate term.