This paper examines the appropriateness of models developed to understand why students do or do not complete their courses in higher education. It is suggested that emphasising integration above regulation has taken attention away from a possible anomic interpretation. A more contextualised, nuanced and psychosocial approach to understanding…

This qualitative research project focused on the interviews of 27 low socio-economic students at a research university in the southwestern United States. The students had already withdrawn from the university or were in the process of withdrawing. The study seeks to provide increased understanding of how students negotiate the decision-making…

Results of questionnaires (n=5,000) mailed to college dropouts indicate that: (1) most students left their freshman year; (2) they did not discusss their decision with university personnel; and (3) their reasons were academic difficulties, personal-emotional problems, and external-environmental pressures. (Author)

The objective of this study is to do a preliminary investigation into the nature and extent of student dropout problems at the University of Alberta. To this end, the academic achievements of the class of 1964 are traced term by term over a period of 6 years. The following areas are examined in this study: (1) A quantitative general description of…

In an abstraction from a doctoral dissertation (University of Michigan, 1967), the author concludes that "attrition is not necessarily harmful to the student. Students may be typed according to the following problems: academic, social, social-academic, religious, or too intellective. Types of Institutions to which students transferred are also…

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…

Condensed from "The Kiwanis Magazine, Volume 53 (September 1968), 22-25, 42.

The primary objective of the Three-Year Nor Cal Attrition Study was to demonstrate that community colleges could overcome the "revolving door" problem and help potential dropouts. It was further realized that the rich descriptive data base that Nor Cal had collected could be of use to the entire academic community. Although grand totals…

Students were asked for their reasons for not re-enrolling at the University of New South Wales. Of the 1216 students in this category 72 percent did not reply, but those who did indicated three motivating factors: the effect of the course or school on them as individuals; pressures of employment or distance; change in personal situation. (LBH)

Discusses the nonacademic problems which cause developmental education students at Dyke College, Cleveland, to interrupt their studies. Considers problems in four categories: financial, health, family responsibility, and involvement in litigation. (Author/DR)

In fall 1996, California's Los Angeles Harbor College instituted the use of a drop notice survey to notify instructors when students dropped their course. Students dropping a course checked off their reasons on a notice card, which was recorded for research and student service purposes and sent to the instructor within the day. In addition, the…

A questionnaire survey was made of 364 State University of New York (SUNY) correspondence course dropouts. Responses came from 187. College credit, career related skills, self-improvement, and certification or college degree requirements had been the leading motives for enrolling; major reasons for discontinuing involved instructors and…

Reports on the results of several major studies of high school dropouts. Topics addressed are who drops out and why; school-related causes; and prevention policies and programs. Stresses the urgency of addressing the nationwide dropout problem and recommends courses of action. Appended are 19 references. (IW)

Student attrition is a major problem for American colleges and universities because an increasing number of enrollees fit the demographic and socioeconomic profile of "high-risk" students, who consist in general of minorities, the academically disadvantaged, the disabled, and those of low socioeconomic status. Declining enrollments leave…

The purpose of this report was to obtain information on first semester dropouts from Southwest Wisconsin Vocational-Technical Institute (fall semester 1976) and to ascertain their reasons for leaving. A total of 135 individuals received questionnaires; response rate was 52%. Questionnaire items covered dropout characteristics, problems encountered…