Impact of Perceptions of Faculty on Student Outcomes of Self-Efficacy, Locus of Control, Persistence, and Commitment

Abstract

The literature on higher education supports the assumption that the integration of environmental and psychological factors are critical in influencing the intents of students to stay in college. Yet, questions exist on the impact faculty may have on student retention. This exploratory study examines perceptions of students about faculty in terms of relatedness, responsiveness, teaching quality, and treatment of students and how those perceptions impact students' own perceptions of their self-efficacy, locus of control, persistence, and commitment. Results yielded positive and significant correlations. Respondents identified specific attributes of faculty which could potentially enhance or frustrate their intentions to stay in college. Recommendations for promoting quality faculty-student interactions in and out of the classroom and the ethics of caring are discussed.