ERIC Number: ED158825
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1978-Sep
Pages: 42
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Longitudinal Study of Student Flow and Persistence. Report on Second Phase.
Slark, Julie
A longitudinal study of student flow and persistence was implemented at Santa Ana College to provide student demographic data, student evaluation of the college's services, student follow-up data, and further insight into attrition/retention factors. In the fall of 1977 a sample of 629 new students (described in the first phase report) was selected; the following spring, the sample was divided into two groups: those who returned for the spring 1978 semester (344) and those who did not return (285). Questionnaires were sent to both groups to determine outcomes data for non-returning students and differences between the two groups with regard to their characteristics, and evaluation of the college and their experiences. Preliminary findings indicated that 58% of the male students, 50.9% of the females, over 60% of those under 20 years of age, 82% of students carrying 16 or more units and 74% of transfer program students persisted. Both returning and non-returning students generally rated their experiences at the college as "above average" and "excellent". Non-returning students typically reported that work-related reasons caused the interruption in their attendance. An appendix contains sample questionnaires and a collection of comments written by respondents in the non-returning student questionnaire. (Author/MB)
Descriptors: Academic Persistence, Cohort Analysis, Community Colleges, Demography, Dropout Characteristics, Females, Institutional Research, Longitudinal Studies, Males, Part Time Students, Participant Satisfaction, Persistence, Questionnaires, School Surveys, Socioeconomic Background, Student Characteristics, Student Employment, Student Mobility, Transfer Students, Two Year College Students, Two Year Colleges
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Santa Ana Coll., CA.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A