This report tracks the degree completion and persistence rates of freshmen entering an Indiana public college or university in Fall 1990. Entering freshmen are defined using data provided by the institutions in the Student Information System as first-time freshmen enrolling in the Fall 1990 enrollment term. Statistics on degree completion,…

This paper presents findings on predictive models used to identify student characteristics associated with persistence and success in the Administration of Justice (ADJ) program at Blue Ridge Community College (Virginia). Data mining was used to discover patterns and relationships in the data, and analysis was performed using the SPSS program,…

This study presents data and findings on student retention at South Texas Community College (STCC) and recommends steps to improve retention rates. STCC groups attrition into three categories: (1) positive attrition, due to graduation, completion or transfer; (2) neutral attrition, due to non-institutional conflicts; and (3) negative attrition,…

The national summer dropout campaign of 1963 was initiated by President Kennedy. Subsequent to a June 19 meeting at the White House of over 250 leading educators, another group of local administrators met with Federal officials to discuss possible actions that might be taken to reduce dropouts. The ensuing campaign began and ended within a span of…

A study of degree completion rates, time taken to earn degrees, and final academic standing in two universities showed wide variation between faculty and academic department, between the universities, between males and females, and between direct entry and transfer students. Assessment of the impact of rising admissions standards is recommended.…

The need to attract academically talented students to teacher education and to retain these teachers in fields such as mathematics, science, English, and foreign language teaching is discussed. Honors programs in teacher education offer one means of recruiting and holding superior students. (PP)

Fifty-eight quarterly issues of CSPA published since 1965 are reviewed for content and emphasis. The literature largely criticizes traditional advising systems but maintains that faculty are the core of effective advising, and advising is important to student success and satisfaction. Equal proportions are devoted to research and to theories and…

A survey of program directors' experiences with faculty turnover showed almost half the four-year state institution respondents had had some difficulty, with less in community colleges and technical schools. Personal reasons and job and salary dissatisfaction were greatest in state colleges and universities, and tenure was only a problem there.…

An Oregon state study examined whether retention and graduation rates experienced by Basic Educational Opportunity Grant students were significantly different than those of students who did not receive financial aid. The grant program is seen as effective in promoting equality of educational opportunity. (MLW)

Examines the methods and findings of a longitudinal assessment of an Upward Bound program's successes in increasing college attendance and academic achievement among 56 ninth, tenth, and eleventh graders. Reveals no significant gains in reading or spelling, but significant achievements in language arts and quantitative skills. (Author/DMM)

Student employment, it is suggested, may have a surprising effect on student retention. Two studies that confirm the potential impact that employment can have on student persistence are discussed. Financial aid officers may consider altering traditional awarding strategies regarding college work-study eligibility. (MLW)

Results from 4,679 subjects tested in seventh grade and as young adults suggest a negative effect of not graduating from high school on psychological functioning for male and female students in the full sample and in the sample (1,871) who did not go on to college. (SLD)

Data from study of a learning community program in an urban community college are used to explore the educational character of student persistence. Analyses reveal that classroom activities influence persistence by changing the way students and faculty interact within and beyond the classroom. Implications for current theories of persistence are…

Reports on a qualitative investigation of eight African Americans' persistence in predominantly White university doctoral programs. Discusses ways in which university faculty and administrators can enhance African American persistence and successful completion of the doctoral process. Focuses on participant profiles, interviewing procedures,…

Claims that parents and teachers should reinforce students to persist until they master a challenging task. Compares children in America and Asia in terms of perseverance. Provides suggestions to parents on motivating their children to achieve goals. Concludes that it is important to explain to the child a task's difficult aspects, brainstorm new…