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STUDENT RETENTION:
UNDERSTANDING THE CAUSES OF STUDENT ATTRITION
AND IMPLEMENTING A PREVENTION PLAN
Joe Cuseo
Marymount College
III.
WHEN SHOULD PROGRAMMATIC ACTION BE TAKEN?
UNDERSTANDING THE CAUSES OF STUDENT ATTRITION
AND IMPLEMENTING A PREVENTION PLAN
Joe Cuseo
Marymount College
RETENTION-INTERVENTION TIMELINE:
A LONGITUDINAL CONTINUUM OF PROACTIVE-TO-REACTIVE PRACTICES DESIGNED TO PROMOTE STUDENT PERSISTENCE
PROACTIVE
1. Summer Transition/Summer Bridge Programs
2. New-Student Orientation & Convocation
3. Extended-Orientation Course (New-Student Seminar)(Student-Success Course)
4. Early-Alert/Early-Warning System (e.g., absenteeism reports during first 4 wks.)
5. Midterm-Grade Reports (e.g., at 7-8 weeks into the semester)
6. �Red Flag� Procedures (e.g., failure to pre-register or renew financial aid)
7. Exit Interviews/Surveys (administered during the process of withdrawal)
8. Already-Withdrawn/Departed-Student Surveys (conducted after withdrawal)
9. Re-Recruitment of Withdrawn Students: Converting �Dropouts� to �Stop-Outs�
RECOMMENDED REFERENCES & RESOURCES ON STUDENT RETENTION
Beal, P., & Noel, L. (1980). What works in student retention. The American College Testing Program and The National Center for Higher Education Management Systems. (Eric Reproduction Service No. 197 635)
Braxton, J. M. (2000). Reworking the departure puzzle: New theory and research on college student retention. Nashville: University of Vanderbilt Press.
Braxton, J. M. (Ed.)(2001-2002). Using theory and research to improve college student retention. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, 3(1), 1- 118.
Lenning, O. T., Beal, P. E., & Sauer, K. (1980). Retention and attrition: Evidence for action and research. Boulder, CO: National Center for Higher Education Management Systems.
Lenning, O. T., Sauer, K., & Beal, P. E. (1980). Student retention strategies. AAHE- ERIC/Higher Education Research Report No. 8. Washington, D.C.: American Association for Higher Education.
National Institute of Independent Colleges and Universities (1990). Undergraduate completion and persistence at four-year colleges and universities. Washington, DC: Author.
Noel, L., Levitz, R., & Kaufmann, J. (1982). Organizing the campus for retention. Iowa City, Iowa: American College Testing Program & The National Center for Academic Advancement of Educational Practices.
Terrell, M. C., & Wright, D. J. (Eds.) (1988). From survival to success: Promoting minority student retention. NASPA Monograph No. 9. Washington, DC: National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.
Resources: Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice. Amityville, NY: Baywood Publishing. (http://baywood.com)
Recruitment & Retention in Higher Education (Newsletter). Madison, WI: Magna Publications. (www.magnapubs.com)
Website: http://www.noellevitz.com (See profiles of campuses with award-winning retention programs.)