This report evaluates four off-campus private alternative schools in Portland, Oregon, serving students mainly of high school age and supported by the Portland Public Schools. The students are largely dropouts or on the verge of dropping out; many are referred from other schools and law enforcement agencies. Since 1966, the Albina Youth…

The effectiveness of the Plattsburgh Freshman Seminar program, which was designed to increase student retention, was evaluated. The 45 hour, three credit program was designed to help students clarify educational and personal goals, to increase faculty-student contact, to develop communication skills, and to familiarize the student with the…

In order to determine what Central YMCA Community College can do to reduce student dropout rates, a series of questionnaires was developed and SRS information system data were analyzed for fall 1975. One questionnaire collected information from faculty on student attrition through the first eight weeks of the fall 1975 semester to find out what…

Prepared for the National Dissemination Project to suggest ways in which community colleges might better serve the needs of minority and disadvantaged students, this report discusses outreach and inreach programs. The three purposes of the paper are to: (1) describe the outreach function of recruiting high-risk minority, and disadvantaged…

Discusses the necessity of retention systems for talented black students at white universities. Programs must take into consideration their financial needs, the process of transition from high school to college, and the opportunity for professional development. Examines components of a minority achievers program at Indiana University in…

Emphasis on basis skills, standardized testing and curriculum standardization in alternative education programs creates the same conditions that originally lead students to drop out. Flexibility of alternative education programs is important. These nontraditional programs should exist as part of the many options that can meet the needs of…

This study presents data and findings on student retention at South Texas Community College (STCC) and recommends steps to improve retention rates. STCC groups attrition into three categories: (1) positive attrition, due to graduation, completion or transfer; (2) neutral attrition, due to non-institutional conflicts; and (3) negative attrition,…

A study of 377 students in an Australian technological institution of higher education investigated the personal, demographic, institutional, and environmental factors associated with dropping out before program completion. Based on the findings, recommendations are made for program adjustments and improved services to accommodate student needs…

Evaluated separate and combined effects of study skills training and career counseling on student retention among 36 college students at high risk for dropping out of college. Students were randomly assigned to one of four treatment or control conditions. Only study-skills-alone treatment had significant positive impact on retention and achieved…

Explores concepts of college "networking" in the context of improving student retention and success, including student-to-student networks, faculty-to-faculty networks, faculty-to-student networks, institution-to-student networks, institution-to-faculty/staff networks, and institution-to-local community networks. Considers the need to address…

A review of the literature related to the impact of vocational education on student retention determined that various types of vocational education programs and approaches have been successful in keeping students in school. Other research showed that vocational education played a role in student retention only when coupled with other components…

This research summary examines the policies and issues that affect the school dropout problem among youth with disabilities. It clarifies the dropout problem, examines government and school policies that affect school holding power, and recommends responses. Information is based on a current dropout prevention research project, findings from five…

Secondary school students who drop out of school are put at great social and economic disadvantage. If potential dropouts can be identified early, prevention may be possible. To construct a prediction model which, through readily available school information, will aid in the identification of students likely to drop out, schools in the Austin,…

Accomplishments of St. Mary's University Student Retention Task Force are addressed. After reviewing the literature on the correlates of retention and approaches to improving student retention, statistical results of the 1982 administration of the Student Opinion Survey of the American College Testing program are provided. This survey explores…

Determining how many students drop out of school and why they leave is not easy. The definition of a "dropout" varies from school district to school district, and the mobility of students makes counting them accurately nearly impossible. In an effort to define dropouts in a way that can be applied uniformly across the country, a…