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STUDENT RETENTION:
UNDERSTANDING THE CAUSES OF STUDENT ATTRITION
AND IMPLEMENTING A PREVENTION PLAN
Joe Cuseo
Marymount College
TARGET AREA #1.
INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH:
STUDENT ASSESSMENT & PROGRAM EVALUATION
UNDERSTANDING THE CAUSES OF STUDENT ATTRITION
AND IMPLEMENTING A PREVENTION PLAN
Joe Cuseo
Marymount College
1.1 Conduct institutional (local) assessment of student retention and attrition patterns from entry-to-exit that includes the assessment of: (a) educational goals and intentions of students at college entry�to serve as basis for subsequent student tracking; (b) percentage of student attrition from term to term; and (c) percentage of student attrition that occurs during and between academic terms.
1.2 Administer student satisfaction/opinion surveys, and compare: (a) the responses of students from different subgroups/subpopulations (e.g., commuters vs. residents; native vs. international students), (b) students interested in different academic programs (e.g., science, humanities, undeclared majors), (c) returning vs. non-returning students, (d) student responses versus those of faculty, staff, and administrators.
1.3 Conduct qualitative research (e.g., student focus groups) to assess students� needs and feelings about the quality of the college experience.
1.4 Adopt administrative procedures for assuring that withdrawing students who are eligible to return to the college are apprised of their option to do so, and that they leave fully informed about what procedures they are to follow to be re-enrolled or re-admitted.
1.5 Conduct �exit interviews� with students who intend to depart, or are in the process of departing.
1.6 Survey students (by mail, by phone, or on-line) who have already withdrawn to assess their reasons for departing and their retrospective perceptions of the college.
1.7 Survey or interview sophomores to assess their retrospective perceptions of how well the college�s first-year program facilitated their transition from high school to higher education, and what advice they would have for improving the quality of the first-year experience.
1.8 Conduct assessments that compare pre-intervention retention rates with post-intervention retention rates. (For example, compare the average retention rate of students during the two-year period just prior to implementation of a retention program with the average retention rate for the two-year period immediately following program implementation).
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.)