The postsecondary attrition rate for American Indian students is higher than of any other racial or ethnic group. It is therefore imperative to identify factors that encourage their persistence in higher education. Employing a phenomenological approach, this study explored the experiences of American Indian college students in a peer-mentoring…

This brochure describes the AASCU/Sallie Mae National Retention Project's goals, beginnings, continuing work, and participants. An introduction describes how the Project has resulted in over 370 state institutions looking closely at their effectiveness in student learning and achievement and at emerging accountability requirements. An overview…

Faced with high rates of student attrition, Santa Barbara Community College (SBCC) established a committee to assess the effectiveness of the college's support services; review research on student retention; and recommend ways of improving student success through academic skills assessment, student academic advisement, articulation and…

Most college and university retention programs do little to change the quality of academic experience for students, especially during the first critical year of college. One of the most promising reforms is establishment of "learning communities," which feature block scheduling to enable students to take classes together, are organized…

Reporting literature from the ERIC system, highlights issues and concerns regarding minority student retention and learning success within community colleges. Discusses factors contributing to declining retention rates and effective programming strategies designed to address continued participation of students of color. (KS)

Describes the benefits of mentoring for African-American male students. Profiles six successful mentoring programs, highlighting the success of the Faculty Mentor Program at the University of Louisville. Presents eight recommendations for viable, effective mentoring programs to promote the retention, academic achievement, and leadership…

Focuses on the special challenges and benefits college athletes encounter. This in-depth study of 31 male athletes (part of an ongoing survey of 2,395 African-American students) points to the need for supported and structured programs. Offers three effective models for organizing initiatives to retain African-American male student athletes. (EMK)

The project described in this report was piloted at Florida Community College during fall 1985 to review policies and practices that can facilitate the retention of students, to propose a system of data collection and dissemination designed to provide routine, useful information about the retention of students, and to establish communications…

In order to help teachers and students assess the preferred cognitive styles of individual learners, Mount Hood Community College introduced and tested the use of cognitive mapping in its orientation program. A task force of managers, counselors, and instructors: (1) decided to use the Modified Hill Model to assess nine dimensions of student…

Arguing that retention research requires a sound theoretical framework and that retention planning takes place within a sociopolitical context, this paper presents an overview of the requirements and process of student retention research. Part I examines the role of research in a college's retention effort and establishes the general requirements…

This paper describes a multi-faceted approach to improving student retention at an urban public university. It is noted that the students at this institution are older, working people; few live on campus and participate in what would be considered traditional student experiences. The paper examines the physical setting and external environment;…

The Supplemental Instruction (SI) program of the University of Missouri-Kansas City addresses attrition by providing academic support in courses that are high risk for students. The program contains a number of innovative features, for example: high risk courses are identified instead of high risk students, and everyone in those courses is offered…

Drawing from a review of the literature on issues related to student retention and attrition, and research on student attitudes toward the Community College of Denver (CCD), this report suggests four models for student retention programs for different two-year college student groups. Following introductory material on the project, a literature…

Examines the role of planned mentoring and claims that it can increase retention and graduation rates of culturally diverse students. Addresses causes of minority students' attrition rates and delayed graduation. Argues greater student/faculty contact can solve academic and nonacademic problems. Discusses development and administration of…

New Chance was designed as a research and demonstration program to improve the economic status and general well-being of highly disadvantaged young women and their children. The program was directed toward mothers aged 16 to 22 who were high school dropouts and receiving welfare. Sixteen sites in 10 states that had some prior experience in serving…