Exploring Relationships between Trait Emotional Intelligence, Academic College Readiness and First Year Student Success

College readiness for America’s high school students has captured the attention of community college leaders to stimulate enrollment and attend to the national college completion agenda. In many college settings, college readiness is measured solely on academic readiness using tools such as standardized tests or high school performance. However, little research has been conducted to explore potential connections between trait emotional intelligence and a first-year student’s demonstrated college readiness through success during the first semester of college. Emotional intelligence is a non-cognitive trait that can be taught and if proved to be significantly correlated to college readiness and college success, could open the door for new college readiness high school interventions or improved college entrance standards. In a quantitative study, the correlation between trait emotional intelligence and first college semester student success including success in English and/or mathematics courses is researched at a Chicago suburban community college. The research findings did not support the stated hypotheses but provided interesting insight into first semester student success and potential directions for future college readiness research.