The three studies reported in this document are part of an ongoing attempt to understand how the world of illiteracy and literacy programs appears to those who have either refused to attend or decided to drop out of adult basic education (ABE). Situational or institutional barriers account for some of this non-attendance; they do not, however,…

This paper examines existing research regarding the problem of school dropouts. It examines the historical context of the problem and discusses current definitions and methods for identifying dropout characteristics and computing dropout rates. Few incentives exist for accurate record-keeping on dropouts. School finances are often linked to…

The project described in this report was piloted at Florida Community College during fall 1985 to review policies and practices that can facilitate the retention of students, to propose a system of data collection and dissemination designed to provide routine, useful information about the retention of students, and to establish communications…

A study was conducted at William Rainey Harper College (WRHC) to determine why students withdrew from courses at two off-campus centers. Surveys were administered to a sample of 54 degree credit and 46 continuing education students who withdrew from classes at Hawthorne Center (HC) in fall 1981, and to 56 degree credit and 44 continuing education…

To determine why some persons leave the university while others remain in the student role, a study compared a group of 44 university students aged 60 and over with a group of 50 ex-students of the same age. The two groups were comparable in age, education, sex, and income. The ex-students stayed at the university a significantly shorter time (2.5…

A study was conducted at William Rainey Harper College to determine why off-campus students withdrew from courses at Hawthorne Center (HC) and Northeast Center (NEC). A total of 391 students who withdrew from degree credit classes and continuing education classes at HC in fall 1981, and from classes at NEC in fall 1982 and 1983 were sampled and…

In this study of student attrition rates at Prince George's Community College, three indicators were analyzed: (1) term-to-term attrition, (2) within-term attrition, and (3) course "inefficiency" (failure). Data from 1972-73 through 1976-77 indicated that fall to spring attrition (term-to-term) was approximately 34%. Spring to fall averaged 47%,…

A study, as part of a larger report on attrition and retention of students at Miami University, was undertaken to determine the reasons for withdrawing from the university prior to earning a degree. A questionnaire was mailed to the 1,026 students in the 1978 class who voluntarily left the institution and for whom correct addresses could be…

The psychological profiles of leaving and persisting students at a small rural community college in Utah were investigated. Subjects were 316 freshmen students, 41.1% of the Fall 1976 class, who were administered the Bipolar Psychological Inventory. Profiles of students leaving the college during the following year were compared to the profiles of…

Studies investigating academic persistence compose one of the most widely reported areas of research in higher education. Tinto is most often cited in and associated with student persistence research. This paper details the origins of Tinto's theories, as well as subsequent criticisms and reformulations of those fundamental theories. The origins…

The School District of the City of Saginaw (Michigan) has annually reported on the rate and nature of the dropout population; this dropout report is the eleventh edition of the state defined generation of dropout reports. One hundred and fourteen, or 5% of Saginaw's 2,292 students in grades 9-12, terminated their high school education between…

Discusses institutional practices that spring from empirically grounded forces that influence students' social integration and retention. Presents 20 recommendations for implementation in 8 domains of institutional practice: academic advising, administrative policies and practices, enrollment management, faculty development, faculty reward system,…

Classifies 47 recommendations gleaned from the articles appearing in this special issue according to their consistency with Tinto's three principles of effective student retention. Orders recommendations by the institutional domain most likely to implement them. Views the recommendations as multiple, powerful levers to reduce college student…

An exploratory study investigated the issues of nonparticipation and program attrition in adult basic education (ABE)literacy programs in the province of British Columbia (Canada). Literature was reviewed and opinions were sought from ABE professionals and other field workers. Seven literacy classes were visited, 66 persons from several different…

A research project investigated 2,313 persons who attended Del Mar College (Texas) during fall 1990 but did not enroll for spring 1991. Four sets of data were collected: (1) limited demographic information on the total student body; (2) demographic information drawn from school records to describe all nonreturnees; (3) demographic information…