We combine administrative data from a regional public university with a novel revealed-preference indicator of student friendships to show that socially connected first-year university students are more likely to be retained into their second year. The impact of friends on retention is statistically and economically significant: each friend raises…

Mathematics is important in industrialized societies, but higher education is facing challenges in attracting students who will engage with and complete mathematics programs. Analytical methods are now available that can show the way forward by considering the numerous and diverse factors that influence student success in undergraduate…

Academic Status Reports (ASRs) are submitted by an instructor to indicate that a student is succeeding in the course or, more commonly, that the instructor is concerned about their progress or participation in the course (e.g., not attending class or not submitting assignments). ASR notifications are sent to students and may also be shared with…

The recruitment and retention of minoritized students is critical for diversifying the counseling profession. Accreditation standards and scholarship provide little guidance on best practices. We sampled 38 administrators from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs to understand recruitment and retention…

Academic advising plays a vital role in shaping the student experience and significantly impacts an institution's retention rate. When students establish a supportive relationship with an academic advisor, they feel more connected to their institution and are more likely to remain engaged. Identifying proactive strategies in online learners'…

Unlike many earlier models of student persistence that viewed the process of student persistence through the lens of the institution, the model proposed here looks at persistence through the eyes of students. It draws on the research on student motivation, student perceptions, and the impact of student networks on student engagement to propose a…

The importance of student engagement is long recognised. Students who are more engaged will be more motivated and inclined to complete their studies. The aim of this study is to understand barriers to engagement for first-year computing students, a cohort that traditionally have high non-progression rates. A qualitative descriptive design was…

Nationally, retaining students in adult basic education (ABE) is an ongoing challenge for numerous programs. The problem is the low retention rates among adult basic education learners in a non-profit ABE program in a large metropolitan city in Georgia. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore how persistence affects student…

Motivation profoundly influences human behavior, shaping skill acquisition and utilization while propelling goal pursuit and success. This study delves into motivation's universality across human endeavors, emphasizing how motivated individuals undertake actions to achieve their objectives. It examines motivation's critical role in enhancing…

Who 'owns' student success at an institution of higher education? Which unit is responsible for student outcomes? The answer to those questions at most universities is complicated. The evidence-based programmes, processes and interventions institutions implement to bolster student success are rarely 'communications' initiatives, but they all…

Today's empowered and hyper(dis)connected generation expects from higher education institutions (HEIs) communication strategies that align with their interests, making communication strategies crucial for their ongoing experience at the University. Once students are recruited, the factors they consider important when choosing a university may…

As the university student body becomes more diversified and students' lives less linear, student retention carries increased importance for universities, including the conversion of deferrers and the re-enrolment of leave-taking students. This paper is based on a broader research project which explored national patterns of deferral and leave of…

Retention research has resulted in a number of theories, models, and frameworks, and the adoption of related strategies by institutions of higher education to graduate the students they admit. These strategies include programming designed to welcome students, give them a sense of belonging, and involve them in the academic and social realms of the…

Vertical transfers, those who transferred from a 2-year institution to a 4-year institution, often face multifaceted challenges and lower success rates upon arriving at the receiving 4-year institutions. This quantitative study focused on three forms of social capital related to post-transfer adjustment, retention, and success for vertical…

Understanding the drivers of student dropout from higher education has been a policy concern for several decades. However, the contributing role of certain factors--including student mental health--remains poorly understood. Furthermore, existing studies linking student mental health and university dropout are limited in both methodology and…