Causal Comparative Essay

sometimes referred to as causal-comparative research, which researchers use to explore possible cause and effect relationships (Mertler & Charles, 2008).
According to John McMillan (2004), in ex post facto research, the investigator determines whether “one or more preexisting conditions have caused subsequent differences between subjects who experienced different types of conditions” (p. 192). This study examines University College (treatment) to determine whether it affects students’ reported level of engagement compared with similar students’ reported level of engagement when the University College condition did not (comparison) exist at VCU.

Institutional Setting
VCU is a large, complex institution located in Richmond, Virginia and serves a mixture of students from Virginia, the United States, and around the world. The university offers many educational degrees and programs while serving a wide range of students. Undergraduate, graduate, professional, and doctoral degrees are awarded every year from the College of Humanities and Sciences (Schools of Mass Communications, Government and Public Affairs, and World Studies); Schools of Allied Health Professions, Arts, Business, Dentistry, Education, Engineering, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Social Work;

Of the first-time freshman, 89.7% were from the Commonwealth of Virginia. In fall 2003, students identified the following race/ethnicity categories: 61.6% of the first-year class as white, 19.9% as African-American or Black, 10.7% as Asian/Pacific Islander, 2.9% as International Students, 3.9% as Hispanic, and 1% as Native American. There were 1,341 (40.3%) male students and 1,985 (59.7%) female students in the entering cohort. Between 2003 and 2007, VCU’s first-year class grew, became more racially and ethnically diverse, and less students were enrolled part-time (SCHEV,