Student Identity Mediators in Rural Coding Academy

Abstract

This project examines a nonprofit organization, Base Camp Coding Academy (BCCA), that provides a free twelve-month software developer training program to recent high school graduates. The focus of this project is to understand why program participants (African Americans and females) are not completing the free year long program at a rate relative to white male peers. To better understand this phenomenon, this study leverages literature that examines: factors that may impact college completion within the United States, the student experience in higher education as defined by the Loss Momentum Framework (Completion by Design), and the theory of identity as a joint accomplishment whereas one’s identity can change across different environments (Greeno & Grasalfi, 2008).