Dropout rates at the college and university level are much higher for students of minority cultures than for their majority culture peers. This paper suggests that the "revolving door" scenario of minority-culture college students can be stemmed by the proper use of mentoring. A combination of successful peers (interpreters), university…

This brochure describes the AASCU/Sallie Mae National Retention Project's goals, beginnings, continuing work, and participants. An introduction describes how the Project has resulted in over 370 state institutions looking closely at their effectiveness in student learning and achievement and at emerging accountability requirements. An overview…

This study examined the personal-environment relationship from a social-cognitive perspective for black college students (N=90) at two southern, nearly all-white institutions. The study employed observational learning models in relations to academic and social integrated behaviors of black college students. The study postulated that the…

A 1990 Task Force report outlined the problem of the high dropout rate (40-60 percent) among Idaho's Hispanic-American students. This follow-up report presents state goals related to preventing Hispanic students from dropping out and makes specific recommendations to accomplish each goal. State-level goals are strong leadership, adequate funding,…

This paper presents the results of a study of a low-cost dropout prevention program in a rural, small city school district (approximately 3,500 students) that used school incentive teams and multicultural training to increase success for students at risk of dropping out of school. Selected teachers in the eight schools in the district were…

The Take Advantage Now/Parent Education Project (TAN/PEP) is based on the knowledge that college students need their parents' help for academic success. The program was developed at Brooklyn College to offer education, support, and counseling for parents and guardians of entering freshmen who have been accepted in a program known as Search,…

Procedures for operating undergraduate minority engineering programs (MEPs) are provided in this handbook. The findings and suggestions presented are based on the experiences of MEP directors who have managed support programs, which focus on improving the retention of minority students within engineering. The titles and authors of the handbook's…

Results of a study that investigated the effects of instructor-pacing and self-pacing in a personalized system of instruction (PSI) course on student withdrawal rate, achievement, and attitudes are discussed in this speech. Sixty-two Arizona State University students enrolled in a political science introductory research course were randomly…

Recent data in a longitudinal study are examined for insights into the retention patterns of institutions, characteristics of students who persist or drop out, and student satisfaction with the college experience. (MSE)

This document describes seven projects based on research-based strategies to educate students with emotional and/or behavioral problems and prevent their dropping out of high school. An introduction notes that all the projects focus on forming new connections using multi-pronged approaches to meet individual students' basic emotional and social…

This document describes the National Pilot Sites Project for Recruitment and Retention, an effort to recruit, prepare, and retain highly qualified diverse educators and related services personnel for children and youth with disabilities by involving multiple stakeholder groups within selected states (Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, New Jersey, Oregon,…

This booklet provides the knowledge and tools college and university students and their professors need to develop a partnership with organizations that work with children who are potential dropouts. Section 1 looks at childhood in the 1990s and section 2 introduces partners who can help potential dropouts. Section 3 considers issues related to…

Discusses the problem of student retention in higher education and warns that colleges that fail to develop effective programs of student retention will not be able to offset enrollment losses resulting from the dwindling college-bound pool. Experts agree that the total higher education community must work together. (JAC)

Presents a model to help student personnel administrators develop cost effective approaches for improving student retention, based on the marketing process. The marketing model can be used to systematically respond to the needs of students, faculty, and the community. Outlines retention tactics at Prince Georges Community College. (JAC)

Suggests that college administrators redirect their attention from studying attrition rates to enacting retention strategies based on responding to student needs and providing a more meaningful educational experience. Several studies dealing with the development of retention programs are reviewed. (JAC)