The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) documents dimensions of quality in undergraduate education and provides information and assistance to colleges, universities, and other organizations to improve student learning. Its primary activity is annually surveying college students to assess the extent to which they engage in educational…

In 2004, the Lumina Foundation for Education approved a generous grant to support validation research to explore and document the validity of the Community College Student Report (CCSR), add to the higher education field's understanding of student engagement, and help to identify research or institutional practices that require further attention.…

This study analyzed student characteristics that impact persistence among first-year students attending a large, metropolitan community college. The Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) Freshmen Survey was administered to first-time students during orientation. Factor analysis was used to classify students' personality and behavioral…

A longitudinal study evaluated whether early remediation affected the persistence and/or performance of underprepared students at a midwestern, suburban community college. The study focused on the 3,282 students who completed the basic skills inventory in either Fall 1991 or Fall 1992. Students were classified as either prepared (N=2,028) or…

This study examined voluntary and involuntary withdrawal rates of students of various racial origins at York University in Ontario (Canada). Data were obtained from three surveys of first-year students conducted in 1993, 1994, and 1995, and involving 1,864 students. Information on Ontario Academic Credit (OAC) marks, first year grade point…

This study examined whether there are significant differences in the academic performance and graduation rates of undergraduate transfer students compared to students who entered the general campuses as first-time freshmen in selected 2- and 4-year campuses in Colorado. Four student cohorts were studied within three campuses (Boulder, Denver,…

In 1989, Ohio's Kent State University (KSU) Office of Admissions and Records developed a list of 1,404 students who had transferred from Ohio's Cuyahoga Community College (CCC) to KSU between 1979 and 1989. Demographic, enrollment, academic performance, and graduation data were analyzed to determine the impact on transfer students of a proposed…

Longitudinal data are presented relating to Bakersfield College (BC) students who transferred to public four-year colleges and universities. Highlighted findings include the following: (1) first-time transfers from BC to the California State University and College (CSUC) system increased by 19.4% from fall 1987 to fall 1988, the highest since the…

This report provides province-wide information on the number and academic performance of students transferring from the community colleges and secondary schools in British Columbia (BC) to three BC universities (University of British Columbia, University of Victoria, and Simon Fraser University) between 1977 and 1984. Data for college transfer…

An ongoing study was initiated to provide a reliable means of defining and measuring factors affecting students' performance as they move from high school to college, including the reasons why some are more able than others to excel and/or persist. The study provides public high schools, colleges, universities and the Missouri Coordinating Board…

The use of a basic skills testing program to identify and remediate academic weaknesses of adult reentry graduate students (mean age 30.1 years) was studied longitudinally. The entering masters' level students majoring in business administration were studied in fall 1980 and again after the spring/summer registration of 1984. Through assessment…

Academic and nonacademic variables that may predict persistence in the nursing program at Lakeland Community College, Ohio, were studied. The academic variables included American College Testing program standard scores, National League for Nursing (NLN) rank scores, high school grade point average, and previous college grade point average. The…

Preliminary retention data on regular freshmen at the University of North Dakota (UND) are analyzed for 1976-80. It is shown that at the end of the freshmen year, approximately 25 percent of an entering class has left the university, with an additional 13 percent leaving by the end of their sophomore year. Data on freshmen attrition is provided by…

A study was conducted to compare the academic persistence, performance, and degree attainment of three groups of students who were enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program at Arizona State University, the University of Arizona or Northern Arizona University between 1976 and 1980. The study groups were defined in terms of the students'…

This paper presents data showing how change of major, course load patterns, housing location, and first semester grade point average relate to the percentage of students in the following four outcomes: voluntarily not returning to college, being academically suspended, continuing enrollment, or graduating. (Author/MLW)