This paper examines an often-overlooked contributing factor to minority student collegiate attrition: students' limited knowledge of--and sometimes resistance to--the kinds of academic discursive practices they need to become "full participants" (Lave & Wenger, 1991) in the university setting. Adopting a Vygotskian view of sociolinguistics, we…

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…

An exploratory study examined the effects of organizational attributes and interactional attributes on student attrition. Path analysis indicates that while organizational attributes directly affect academic or social integration, they have no direct effect on student withdrawal. (Author/MSE)

Despite the broad appeal of Tinto's (1993) theory, it is not well supported by empirical research, especially when applied to minority students. While prior critiques of the theory indicate the need to modify Tinto's concept of "breaking away" when applying the theory to diverse students, research suggests a need for additional refinements. In…

Underrepresented minority students have varied characteristics but have lower participation rates and attrition rates that are higher. The barriers to equal participation in higher education are known, as are ways of overcoming them. There is no alternative to the simultaneous pursuit of quality and equality. (MSE)

A study of the predictive validity of Tinto's theory of college student attrition is described. Compensatory interaction between levels of goal and institutional commitment indicated that institutional commitment had its greatest positive influence on retention for students with low levels of commitment to completing a college degree, and vice…

A study using a national sample of 1,375 college students attending public 4-year institutions tested hypotheses concerning economic and noneconomic variables on college persistence. Findings indicate financial variables moderate the effect of goal commitment on persistence. Implications for theory and for financial aid policy are explored.…

Two contrasting hypotheses about the effects of community colleges--the view that these institutions "cool out" those who might attend four-year colleges, and the view that they increase schooling for students who would otherwise have no access to higher education--are presented. A model of educational attainment is discussed. (Author/MLW)

In a study of the accuracy of Tinto's model of student attrition among 253 underprepared community college students, 4 exogenous variables (family background, precollege schooling, getting ready, and encouragement from significant others), 3 endogenous variables (initial commitment, academic integration, and social integration), and previously…

Analysis of a survey of freshman women at a land-grant university included 12 possible determinants of student satisfaction, intent to leave the college, and dropout. The labor model seems applicable to colleges and universities, but is not sufficient to explain the dropout process. (MSE)

A study of 233 nontraditional-age and 92 traditional-age university students investigated the utility of Vincent Tinto's model of student attrition for age-related sensitivity. Student variables considered include demographic, individual, educational, academic integration, social integration, and commitment factors. Results suggest the model fits…