Mission
GYA’s Research Committee conducts and synthesizes gap year research in order to make recommendations for accreditation standards, inform practices and pedagogy within the gap year field, and advance the gap year movement by identifying trends and impacts across diverse gap year experiences.
2023 Goals:
- Conduct and analyze data from State of the Field Survey, and produce results
- Improve measurements around diversity in the field
- Develop outcomes measurement tool
- Support the development of the Gap Year Research Consortium
Past Work & Achievements:
- Annual State of the Field reports for both Programs and Consultants
- Support the 2020 National Alumni Survey data collection, analysis, and report
Next Meeting:
TBD
COMMITTEE CHAIR
Dr. Ritza Santiago has researched international and domestic gap year programs and related topics for the past eight years, conducting postsecondary surveys with teens in the northeast region of the US. Her dissertation explores how her research participants (gap year students) finalized the decision to take a gap year during the COVID-19 pandemic, which involved factors such as poor communication from their committed institutions and input from family members. Similarly, all participants stated that they hadn’t previously considered a gap year; however, the effects of COVID-19 allowed the option to be explored. Each participant reported this “detour” as a positive experience and would recommend it to their peers.