Identified intervention protocols that could help reduce the attrition of women business majors at an urban community college. Review of academic progress data and data from student surveys which examined students' reasons for leaving the institution indicated that there was a need for support mechanisms throughout the freshman year and extending…

Tested a model of a psychological process of college student dropout. Student surveys indicated that student satisfaction had a direct effect on cognitions about dropout, which, in turn, directly affected dropout behavior. The model provided a valid psychological explanation for college student dropout. (SM)

Describes a systematic, student-centered retention program developed under the auspices of a university psychological and counseling center; through self-identification and follow-up, individuals are assisted with complex issues that commonly lead to withdrawal. Suggests that a useful alternative to retention is promoting reasons for students to…

Examined characteristics of community college students who enrolled but left before the census date. Data from telephone interviews and the institution's student information system indicated that the size of the disappearing student population was about 10 percent of the total enrollment. Nearly two-thirds were gone before the semester began, and…

Compares the themes of academic and social integration in Tinto's model of college student attrition with the themes of "vision" and "sense of community" as described in a recent ethnographic study. It is argued that vision and sense of community are more useful theoretical considerations in helping address college student…

Examined the efficacy of an ACT-based merit index in predicting undergraduate college students' first-to-second-year retention. Results indicated that the ACT-index, although a significant predictor of retention, failed to predict retention as well as the more traditional ACT-Composite score. Evidence did indicate, however, that further…

Administered the Persistence/Voluntary Dropout Decision Scale and Cope Inventory to Hispanic two-year college students to assess the impact of coping style on college persistence decisions. Results identified how different types of persistence decisions among students were positively or negatively associated with specific dispositional coping…

Explores how higher education institutions can develop a conceptual model for enhancing student learning and retention by merging the academic and student affairs unit, highlighting such efforts at Olivet College, Michigan. The article presents the societal context and guiding assumptions as they relate to the complex tasks of merging both…

A study investigated the extent to which 104 community college students' experiences with key college processes during the first few weeks of school predicted their persistence or withdrawal from the college in the second semester. Results identified a small set of processes, both administrative and instructional, that differentiated between…

Analysis of 258 responses to a survey of undergraduate students in good standing at a college of business administration who did not return for the fall 1996 semester, found no single critical causal factor. It was found that many of these students had previously dropped out, suggesting that they were stopping out rather than dropping out. (DB)

Discusses empirical problems in confining college student retention studies to stay-versus-go outcomes, reviewing data resources (exit surveys, transcript requests, withdrawn student surveys, state transfer student databases, and the National Student Clearinghouse's Enrollment Search Program), which can enhance understanding of first-year…

A study examined the role of career maturity in the college persistence of 307 freshmen at a public, residential, four-year college. Results indicate that the My Vocational Situation instrument is reliable and valid, although theoretical formulations should be reexamined. Career maturity was positively associated with several variables important…

Reviews the college completion/graduation rate thresholds developed by several states and discusses advantages and disadvantages of several statistical approaches, including use of the one standard deviation lower bound method, the logit prediction bound method, the linear regression method, and the logistic regression method. (DB)

Explores the empirical evidence that explains the increasing attrition rates of first year college science, math, and engineering (SME) majors. Results suggest that the interaction of instructional factors, differing high school and college faculty expectations for entering SME undergraduates, and epistemological considerations contribute to…

A study of 81 female graduate students over age 30 at a large urban research university investigated their experiences, problems, and demographics. Results indicate that variables important to persistence are marital status, quality of student/student and student/faculty interactions, and grade point average. Policy implications and possible…