A study of first-year chemistry students (n=962) in one Canadian university investigated factors that may contribute to retention or withdrawal of women in science study. Results show transition patterns into and during the first year of university that suggest that career paths and lifestyles begin to differentiate between genders in ways much…

A study was conducted to investigate the validity of Tinto's model of college withdrawal in a public four-year college and a private two-year institution. The model consists of six sets of variables in a causal sequence; i.e., background characteristics, initial goal and institutional commitment, academic and social integration, subsequent goal…

A survey was conducted to evaluate nationally the retention of undergraduates at institutions of higher education. In particular the survey sought to: determine the rates at which full-time students persisted in and completed higher education; identify factors that institutional representatives felt influence students to leave school; and describe…

Three studies were conducted at Evergreen Valley College, in San Jose, California, to measure the persistence of new college students enrolled in entry-level English courses (i.e., English 321, English 322, and English 330) in fall 1988. Specifically, the studies examined students' persistence from their initial English course through Transfer…

Factors that influence voluntary withdrawal from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are investigated. A survey based on a cohort of students admitted for the first time in fall 1977 was conducted with a response rate of approximately 50 percent. Major and minor reasons for not returning to the university are tabulated for males and…

This study addressed the question of how much graduation rates would improve if new students were followed for 10 instead of four or six years from their date of first enrollment; it also compared enrollment and graduation patterns of new freshmen and new transfers to see if graduation rates were similar after 10 years. Participants were all…

Examined the contributions of academic background, self- beliefs, and other factors toward predicting college withdrawal by late adolescents. Found that academic background and self-beliefs were significant predictors of withdrawal. Found that specific self-beliefs showed significant negative relationships with withdrawal. Noted that relationships…

A study was conducted at Sacramento City College (SCC) to determine the effects of enrolling in a first-semester student success course on academic performance and persistence. Matched pairs of students, one who took the semester-long success course and one who did not, were compared in terms of number of college credit hours completed, grade…

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…

This study examined the impact of precollege variables and three motivational factors on retention and grades of 581 high risk college freshmen. The precollege variables were gender, ethnicity, parental education, financial aid status, and high school rank. The motivational factors were identified from the Noel-Levitz College Student Inventory…

Student and institutional characteristics related to college freshman persistence were studied. Persistence was examined for 5 institutions (5,950 students) at 4 points in time: end of first term, reenrollment in the spring, end of spring term, and reenrollment in the fall of the sophomore year. Data from a variety of sources were used, and…

The Minority Assistance Program (MAP) was established at the University of South Carolina in 1986 to help black entering freshmen become integrated into campus life. Specific objectives are improving academic achievement and retention rates of minority students. This comparative study assessed whether or not the program is accomplishing these…

A random sample of 301 first-time entering freshmen was drawn in fall, 1971, and descriptive data were gathered on this group over eight consecutive semesters (fall 1971-spring 1975). The sample included 55.48% males and 44.52% females, of which 29.9% were general education majors. Data indicated that 23.92% had officially graduated by the end of…

This study, which is a companion to a study on 10-year enrollment and graduation patterns for new freshmen and transfers, sought to quantify how much more likely college students were to graduate if they were transfers, were enrolled continuously, were mostly full-time, and began their academic careers with good first-semester grade point averages…

Examines factors associated with persistence to a second term for 796 first time, two-year college students. Demographic variables correlated with low persistence were taking nondegree courses only, enrolling part time, working full time, and being over age 40. The only academic factor related to low persistence was a first term grade point…