Research Symposium

BIO

Sarah Summers is currently a first-year junior at Florida State University, where she is majoring in Criminology and minoring in Business Administration. She is expected to graduate with her Bachelor of Science degree in Spring 2027 and plans to attend law school after completing her undergraduate studies. Sarah is originally from Tampa, Florida, and is interested in pursuing a career in the legal field.

At Florida State University, Sarah is actively involved on campus. She is a member of Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity, where she connects with other students who are interested in law and participates in professional development opportunities. She is also involved in the Inter-Residence Hall Council (IRHC), where she currently serves as the secretary. In this role, she helps organize meetings, keep records, and communicate information to other members, which has helped her develop strong organizational and leadership skills.

During this project, Sarah learned several valuable skills that will help her in the future. One of the most important things she improved on was communication, especially when working with her mentor and collaborating with others. She also gained experience conducting research and learning how to gather and organize information more effectively. Overall, this experience helped her grow academically and professionally while giving her a better understanding of how these skills can be useful in her future career in law.

Dual Enrollment at an R1 Institution

Abstract

Dual enrollment programs are designed to give high school students an early start on college and help them feel more prepared for higher education. Although dual enrollment has been studied in general, there is still limited research looking specifically at postsecondary outcomes connected to a single R1 institution, which this project aims to address. This study examines the postsecondary outcomes of dual enrollment students associated with one R1 institution, with all participant and institutional information reported anonymously to protect privacy. Using institutional enrollment and outcome data, the project explores where these students enroll after high school graduation, paying particular attention to attendance at four-year and selective colleges. By focusing on overall enrollment patterns, the analysis aims to better understand how dual enrollment students transition into higher education. The findings show that dual enrollment students tend to have strong postsecondary enrollment outcomes, suggesting that completing college-level coursework in high school may help students feel more prepared and adjust more successfully to college life. Overall, this study adds a more focused perspective on how dual enrollment programs can support college readiness and early post-secondary success. These results may also help guide future research and provide insight for institutions looking to strengthen pathways that support students as they move from high school into college.

Keywords: Dual enollment, R1 Institution