Although few students terminate their pursuit of a doctorate during the course-work phase of their program, many doctoral students drop out around the time that they successfully complete planned courses, a period known as "all but dissertation" (ABD). An examination of how professional educators who added a doctoral program to their…

An overview of issues and problems in identifying and predicting dropouts is presented in this Digest. The topics discussed are as follows: factors associated with dropping out; defining and calculating dropouts; problems in prediction; the usefulness of current prediction models; and suggestions for improving prediction. The recommendation is…

Findings from a study of administrators' perceptions of student dropout causes and possible interventions are presented in this paper. Current dropout literature was categorized into four sources of student withdrawal from school--schools, parents, peers, and students. A national survey of 650 secondary principals and 650 superintendents produced…

This position paper was written to answer a series of basic questions frequently asked about attrition and retention at Empire State College (ESC), New York. The questions addressed in the report are: (1) What is the attrition rate at ESC? (2) How does ESC's attrition rate compare to other colleges? (3) Who are the leavers? (4) When does attrition…

Reasons why students studying business administration withdrew from Fayetteville Technical Institute (North Carolina) were examined. Questionnaires mailed to a random sample of 30 former students were completed by 26 dropouts who had been enrolled at the institute during 1981-1982. Responses from 26 students were classified as nonsocietal or…

The history and status of research on college student attrition are reviewed, and research design and measurement deficiencies that have reduced the accuracy or usefulness of results or hindered appropriate policy formation are discussed. (MSE)

Finds that developmental reading students were as successful in college as low ACT nondevelopmental students but not as successful as the higher ACT students. Suggests that ACT scores and age were the best predictors of college success. Demonstrates the need for developmental classes for underprepared college freshmen. (RS)

Oregon's accounting system to identify early school leavers is described in this document. The system provides a uniform process for identifying students in grades 7-12 who leave school prior to completion of a high school degree or equivalent studies. Included are sample forms and instructions for completion, a description of the state Department…

A study investigated why students who entered the college of education at Ohio University voluntarily withdrew from teacher education later to pursue a different major. The effects of teacher education curriculum and other factors in their decision to leave were explored. (PP)

This investigation focused on factors related to students' decisions to withdraw from college courses. An open-ended survey was used to construct questionnaires for assessing student, instructor, course, and situational variables. Implications for advisors and instructors, relationship of withdrawal to course selection, and suggestions for…

Reasons dropouts offer for withdrawal from college and differences between respondents and nonrespondents to a followup questionnaire were studied. During the spring 1980 semester, freshmen and sophomores completed a questionnaire describing their background and college experiences. A total of 156 dropouts (those who did not complete courses…

Data from the National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972 indicate that women are more likely to withdraw only in two year colleges and that whites are more likely to withdraw than blacks. High school program, college grades, and educational aspiration are significantly related to withdrawal, but receipt of financial aid is not.…

Offers an economics/business-management perspective on student attrition, focusing on the external macro-environment (including such factors as government funding of education, changing enrollment patterns, and the increased number of postsecondary institutions) and the internal micro-environment (exhibiting characteristics of intangibility,…

Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) conducted a student survey to identify causes of first-time student attrition between fall 1999 semester and the following spring semester. A Non-Returning Student Survey was mailed to 2,026 such students, 185 of whom responded by mail, and 494 more of whom were contacted for telephone interviews. Reasons…

Examined 600 student and 300 faculty perceptions of the environment at the University of Wyoming as it relates to student retention and attrition. Results suggest that perceptions of persistors and subsequent dropouts differ less than expected. (TE)