Student mobility to public institutions of higher education in Tennessee : implications for equity and excellence

This research was conducted in order to determine if an analytical gravity model for student migration to public institutions of higher education in Tennessee was viable and could provide a basis for determining those areas of the state which were over- and under-represented in terms of college enrollment. The research also provided descriptive and analytic information regarding migration patterns and trends for in-state undergraduate student to the public institutions of higher education in Tennessee. A Gravity Model based on migration distance and county population was constructed using a Logit Model Simulation in lieu of the Least Squares Regression normally used in building such a model. The use of the Logit Model allowed for a more accurate predictive equation to be constructed, as student migration is a curvalinear rather than a straight line function. The Gravity Model predictions were compared and contrasted to the actual enrollments to determine those counties and regions of Tennessee which were over- and unde-rrepresented in college enrollment. These results were also contrasted and correlated with other demographic and socioeconomic data for the various counties and regions of the state. It was found that county representation in college enrollment varies significantly by individual county and region and that various demographic and socio-economic groups displayed unique migration patterns and trends throughout the study period (Fall, 1980 through Fall, 1990). These included the findings that black students migrated farther than students from other racial groups, that male students migrated farther than female students, and that traditional age students migrated farther than older students. All of these findings were especially true for students attending four-year campuses, although less related significant findings were found for two-year institutions. Additionally, it was found that significant positive relationships existed between both the proportion of urban population and the median income of the home county and the level of enrollment representation from that county in the statewide system of public higher education. Finally, it was found that no relationships existed between students who migrated farther distances and their likelihood to persist or graduate within the higher education system.