In order that college and university educators and administrators could design a strategy for dealing with rural student dropouts, this study reviewed existing research on rural students who drop out of higher education. Although some research challenges the relationship between persistence in college and rural/urban background, corroborated…

The reasons that students in the United Kingdom fail to complete General National Vocational Qualifications (GNVQ) courses were examined through a study that involved four key elements: questionnaire survey of 3,391 students enrolled in GNVQ courses in further education colleges and schools; questionnaire survey of 782 centers providing GNVQs;…

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 418 academically underprepared college students found a positive correlation between students' perceptions of their career decision-making self-efficacy and their overall social and academic adjustment to the academic environment. Further research into career decision-making self-efficacy is recommended, particularly for intervention to…

Explores concepts of college "networking" in the context of improving student retention and success, including student-to-student networks, faculty-to-faculty networks, faculty-to-student networks, institution-to-student networks, institution-to-faculty/staff networks, and institution-to-local community networks. Considers the need to address…

The Goodwill Literacy Initiative evaluated its services during the 1994-95 program year. This time frame was chosen because several program enhancements were implemented that reflect the literacy initiative's mission to combine adult basic education with work force development. Three developments were aimed at student retention: a formal…

The purpose of this brief report is to highlight information about disabled youth in relation to the second of six National Education goals proposed by the President and the Governors in 1990. The second goal states that "By the year 2000, the high school graduation rate will increase to at least 90 percent." A grade of…

The relationship between a student's "significant others" and academic persistence or attrition was studied at Spring Arbor College, Michigan, and activities were instituted at the college as a result of study findings. "Significant others" was defined as those who interacted with and influenced the individual's conceptions. A…

This report identifies the nature and extent of the dropout problem nationally and its extent and cause at the Kansas City, Missouri, Vocational-Technical (Vo-Tech) Center. Section One, an examination of the national dropout problem, is an extensive literature review. Deficiencies in secondary vocational programs are investigated. Suggestions to…

This is a study of the dropout rate during the 1998-99 academic year at Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST). A total of 1,025 of 7,174 students (14%) withdrew from their program of study before the end of the year. This report categorizes the reasons for leaving as follows: (1) exited by institute; (2) personal…

This study compared characteristics of students who persisted in undergraduate study and those who dropped out when matched on high school performance and Scholastic Assessment Test scores. Subjects were 747 full-time students at a major research university who entered in fall 1996 but did not return for fall 1997 (leavers) and a matched sample of…

Investigates Mexican-American elementary-age children with older siblings who were either high school dropouts or persisters. Results indicate that siblings of dropouts had lower expectations of completing high school and had more absences than did siblings of persisters. Recommends that schools use absenteeism and expectancy in identifying…

Presents practical suggestions regarding how college faculty can promote the success of American Indian college students by recognizing and dealing with racism, recognizing nontraditional leadership skills, providing personal support, clarifying goals and expectations, and encouraging students' self-understanding and positive self-image. Contains…

A discussion of the success of Oakes College (Santa Cruz, California) at attracting and retaining Black and Hispanic students looks at the early experimental nature of the college, what was learned in its early years, and the educational and policy strategies that have evolved through controversy and crisis. (MSE)