A Comparison of Centralized and Decentralized Developmental Education Courses in Four Public Appalachian Community Colleges and Students' Perceptions Regarding the Seven Principles for Good Practice

Abstract

This work is dedicated to my wife and best friend, Heidi Gabrielle Thompson. You are a beautiful artist, a beautiful mother, and a beautiful friend… "You and me together…" And to my children, Lillian Belle Keith, Noam Gabriel Keith, and Baby-Boy-to-Be: I am thankful everyday to watch you grow, to have conversations with you, to play with you, and to entertain the many questions you ask about this world… I hope that this accomplishment will help you all someday realize that lifelong learning is a wonderful thing, and that you too can achieve anything you work hard at. This work is also dedicated to the loving memory of my grandparents, Ralph Holman Keith (1911-1999) and Margaret Belle Keith (1921-1994). I rely greatly, everyday of my life, on the love, encouragement, and strength that you both provided me throughout my youth… if it were not for you both I do not know where I would be. Thank you!! Lastly, I am a first-generation and non-traditional college student. For the most part, college was not supposed to be in my future… it was not something I had focused on in high school and certainly not something for which I'd prepared. To be honest, I wasn't sure what I would do with my life. I dedicate this work to all of those students who are high school dropouts, or first generation students, or non-traditionals, who, for some reason, have become inspired to take on the challenge of academia… my hat goes off to you!! You can do it!! A Comparison of Developmental Education Programs viii Data Analysis .