Drinking remains a significant part of the college experience for many students across the nation. The 2010 Monitoring the Future survey found that 65 percent of college students reported alcohol use in the past 30 days, 37 percent reported occasions of heavy drinking (five or more drinks in a row in the past two weeks), and nearly half (44…

Engagement of the online learner is one approach to reduce attrition rates. Attrition rates for classes taught through distance education are 10-20% higher than classes taught in a face-to-face setting. This paper introduces a Model for Engagement and provides strategies to engage the online learner. The Model depicts various opportunities where…

Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA) is an independent, non-profit organization with a vision for schools that work for all children. It partnered with Coca-Cola in 1984 and began a dropout prevention program just as it was conducting the first comprehensive study of school dropouts in Texas. Its annual studies since then have…

Minority-student retention efforts at Boston College, California State University at Fresno, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and Purdue University are analyzed. Key factors common to all four institutions' retention efforts are identified: well-defined policy, high level of commitment, comprehensive student services, and dedicated…

This paper examines several models of freshman seminar programs, reviews the assessment and research literature showing the efficacy of these programs, and discusses research emphases of the new National Center for the Study of the Freshman Year Experience at the University of South Carolina. (Author/MLW)

Information about students' characteristics and their perceptions of their educational experience allow institutions to predict their risk of attrition. Trenton State College's effective use of the American Council on Education Cooperative Institutional Research Program for planning and assessment is described. (MLW)

The Reduced Load Program, instituted in 1973 at the Indiana University School of Medicine to allow students two academic years to complete their first-year course requirements, is described. This program was developed as an alternative to dismissal for students experiencing academic difficulty. (MLW)

An early intervention program at Buffalo State College sought to identify the students who might be considered high risks academically. A faculty member provided them with counseling and advice during a personal interview very early in their first semester and then referred them to the proper assistance. (MLW)

Examines the experiences of three leading science and engineering institutions (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, California Institute of Technology, Georgia Institute of Technology) in recruiting and retaining African American students, noting the recruitment, financial aid, and retention strategies that produce favorable results and others…

The University of Illinois's program to recruit and retain minority students is described and discussed, focusing on the effect of granting delays in program completion and the increase in rates of on-time and delayed graduation. (MSE)

Describes three retention programs for regularly admitted students of color. Outlines each program's history and inception; its funding, staffing, and facilities; how the program has become institutionalized and marketed. The key components of the program and assessment of program effectiveness are presented, as well as the crises encountered and…

The experience of two combined residency programs in internal medicine and pediatrics is reviewed. The difficulty for residents of achieving competence in two disciplines is compounded by a lack of faculty role models. Success will depend on the ability of graduates to offer special talents to academic and clinical settings. (Author/MLW)

Suggests that college administrators redirect their attention from studying attrition rates to enacting retention strategies based on responding to student needs and providing a more meaningful educational experience. Several studies dealing with the development of retention programs are reviewed. (JAC)

An academic support program that integrates learning skills instruction into entry-level college courses is described and evaluated. The program is shown to have a positive effect upon student performance, attrition, and reenrollment patterns. Longitudinal shifts in grade distribution patterns are noted. (Author/MLW)

Summarizes results of a community college consortium formed to strengthen vocational and educational guidance and programs for the high-risk student. Consortial activities included information-disseminating conferences for faculty and managers and the creation of college task forces to utilize the information. Outlines factors key to consortial…