A telephone survey was conducted at John Tyler Community College (JTCC) to determine the initial goals, reasons for leaving, current activities, plans, and characteristics of students who left the college after one or more quarters of attendance. Telephone calls were made to all 103 full-time students and a 17% sample of the part-time students…

An investigation was conducted at Prince George's Community College to determine Fall 1980 course passing rates within college divisions and departments; passing rates and grade distributions in courses using different modes of instruction; within-term course withdrawal rates; term-to-term retention and attrition rates; students' reasons for…

This report presents the findings of a research study conducted by Alvin Community College (ACC) as a subcontractor for Project FOLLOW-UP, which analyzed orientation and exit interview effects and their relationship to follow-up research on selected withdrawing and graduating students at ACC. Subjects of the study were 595 ACC students, 257 males…

Information pertaining to the overall grading standards and practices within the five Peralta Colleges is compiled and analyzed here. The report is presented in three parts. The first part deals with the historical background of traditional and non-punitive grading, the national trends toward innovation and experimentation with various forms of…

Grading policies and practices within the nine colleges comprising the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) were examined in order to analyze past and present grading policies and practices in each college and the district as a whole, to relate findings to statewide and nationwide grading practices, and to discuss possible future trends…

This document explores the relationship between application date and early attrition in access colleges. The author notes that students applying to rolling admission colleges can be registered without demonstrating forethought or preparation. Institutions that allow late admission may be doing a disservice to students who have not adequately…

Describes a study of 100 students who withdrew from Michigan's Schoolcraft College in fall 1994 to determine their reasons for withdrawing and demographic characteristics. Indicates that the most prevalent reason was work related and that no significant relationships were found between student characteristics and withdrawal behavior. (BCY)

This report presents the results of a review of course withdrawal and forgiveness policies at public community colleges and state universities in Florida, with a view toward standardizing such policies that impact articulation, the transfer of credit, and credit-hours-to-degree. It recommends that: (1) forgiveness, withdrawal, and incomplete…

A tracking model was developed at Rancho Santiago College utilizing enrollment and student statistics to identify first-time students who entered the college in fall 1983 and to track them over the following years. Statistics on 6,151 new students entering in fall 1983 indicated: (1) only 45% of the students who entered in fall 1983 were enrolled…

A study was conducted at William Rainey Harper College (WRHC) to develop a profile of students who withdrew from courses between 1982 and 1986 and to compare this profile with the results of a 1979-82 withdrawal study. For the past 4 years, each degree credit student who has officially withdrawn from a course has been asked to complete a survey…

In fall 1986, a pilot honors program was initiated in the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD) to meet the needs of highly motivated students. A four-part evaluation of the pilot project was conducted in 1987, involving a survey of the educational and demographic background of all honors students conducted during the beginning of the…

Student attrition and retention have been familiar terms in higher education for a long time. Recently, however, there has developed an increased awareness of the cost of attrition, both to students and to community colleges. Although research has not provided any solutions to the complex problem of attrition, studies have identified some basic…

This report presents a method of teaching first-year typewriting to a large group of students by using individualized instruction and multimedia techniques. The method presented was implemented at Napa College (California) during the fall quarter of the 1975-76 school year and was evaluated soon thereafter. In order to measure the success of the…

Selected aspects of the remedial reading-writing program of Miami-Dade Junior College were evaluated. Placement in the program was designed as the independent variable. Grade point average, reading and writing test scores, continuation in college, and performance in regular college courses were dependent variables. Students earning a raw score of…

This study was designed to measure the academic success of students who transfer to and from the various institutions of higher education in North Carolina. The long range purpose of the study is to evaluate academic performance, attrition rates, and progress toward degree completion of the various transfer groups. These groups include students…