Despite a long history of providing open-door access to students who might not otherwise have an opportunity to attend college, community colleges have not been as effective in fostering student success. To counter this trend, early intervention programs have been developed to facilitate academic and social integration for first semester students to improve student success. However, there is much that is not known about the influence of orientation programs at community colleges as an intervention strategy. Therefore, this study examines the influence of one new student orientation on first semester student success. Grounded in frameworks developed by Astin (1984, 1993, 1999), Tinto (1975, 1993), and Bean and Metzner (1985), this study examines the ability of a new student orientation to academically and socially integrate students into the culture of the institution. The following research questions are posed: • Does new student orientation influence student retention; • Does new student orientation influence student success; • Does new student orientation influence student persistence; • Does new student orientation facilitate a student’s social integration into the institution? • Does new student orientation facilitate a student’s academic integration into the institution? The focus of this case study is a publicly supported, two-year, comprehensive community college that is part of a multiple college district located in a suburban area outside of a major city in Texas. Participants are students who attended a new student orientation session. Employing a mixed methods research approach, data is gathered on student success, retention, persistence, and through interviews. Findings demonstrate that there was no significant difference in first semester retention for students who participated in a new student orientation and for those who did not. However, students who participated in orientation were more likely to be successful in their first semester in college and much more likely to re-enroll for their second semester at the institution. New student orientation also facilitated students’ social and academic integration into the institution. This study concludes with recommendations for program improvement, recommendations for further research, and a discussion of implications for community college policy and practice in developing new student orientation programs. / text

First year college student retention is important to colleges and universities nationwide (Bean, 2005). Most of the research on retention focuses on self-report data collected from students after they withdraw from the institution. The present study focuses, instead, on student stories about school, as well as at and about “home” during their first semester. The experiences of students who transition from high school to college are sometimes likened to those of individuals who enter a new culture for the first time. Thus, this dissertation is grounded in cross-cultural adaptation theory (Kim, 1988, 2001), which posits that successful adaptation occurs via a stress-adaption-growth dynamic and a gradual process of acculturation toward the new environment and simultaneous deculturation from the previous environment. Stories—in the form of in-class free writing assignments—were collected from 264 first-year college students three times during their first semester. These assignments were designed to capture students’ perceptions about their experiences and interactions at school, as well as their experiences and messages to, from, and about “home” as they evolved over the course of the semester. A thematic analysis revealed the majority of stories about events at school were negative and an overwhelming majority of the stories about events at home were positive. A longitudinal comparative analysis revealed no decrease in the percentage of negative stories about experiences and interactions at or about school. Moreover, stories focused on positive school related experiences decreased over time while stories about positive experiences at or about home gradually increased over the course of the semester. For students who did not enroll for spring semester, the results were similar but more dramatic. A large percentage of non-returners were female, about half were first generation college students, and a majority reported “home” as less than 100 miles from the university. More research ought to focus on what goes on during a student’s first year of college to better understand reasons for withdrawing. In doing so, college and university professionals will be able to work more effectively with high school officials, parents, and students to achieve success once they graduate from high school.

Submitted by Jos? Henrique Henrique (jose.neves@ufvjm.edu.br) on 2017-05-05T13:56:17Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) adalvan_soares_oliveira.pdf: 2054370 bytes, checksum: ad47425a0c4bf2568ddc4ea973b7a1e2 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Rodrigo Martins Cruz (rodrigo.cruz@ufvjm.edu.br) on 2017-05-16T17:06:31Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) adalvan_soares_oliveira.pdf: 2054370 bytes, checksum: ad47425a0c4bf2568ddc4ea973b7a1e2 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-16T17:06:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) adalvan_soares_oliveira.pdf: 2054370 bytes, checksum: ad47425a0c4bf2568ddc4ea973b7a1e2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016 / Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo compreender os fatores determinantes da reten??o escolar no IFNMG/Campus Almenara no per?odo de 2013 a 2014, relacionados com os procedimentos adotados pela gest?o escolar da institui??o. Para alcance do objetivo geral foram definidos os seguintes objetivos espec?ficos: identificar os elementos que contribuem para a exist?ncia da reten??o escolar no IFNMG/Campus Almenara no per?odo de 2013 a 2014; compreender as a??es adotadas pela equipe de gest?o escolar do IFNMG/Campus Almenara frente ? reten??o escolar e, consequentemente, melhorar a qualidade de ensino; e, por fim, verificar as a??es poss?veis ? gest?o escolar para superar a reten??o escolar. Para o desenvolvimento do estudo, valeu-se de uma postura metodol?gica de natureza qualitativa, por?m partilhada a dados quantitativos, constitu?da por uma parte documental e de campo com aplica??o de question?rio a 52 respondentes, sendo o p?blico alvo composto por alunos e gestores. Os procedimentos metodol?gicos a caracterizam como um estudo de caso, uma vez que a investiga??o teve como prop?sito gerar conhecimentos aprofundados sobre uma realidade espec?fica do IFNMG/Campus Almenara, caracterizando-se de natureza explicativa e explorat?ria. Os resultados obtidos evidenciaram que os fatores que impulsionam a reten??o escolar no IFNMG/Campus Almenara s?o multifatoriais por estarem relacionados tanto no que se refere ?s quest?es individuais dos pr?prios alunos quanto ?s a??es (ou aus?ncia destas) de cunho institucional, bem como a aspectos familiares, sociais e culturais em geral. Todavia, mesmo que a reten??o escolar n?o tenha determinantes espec?ficos, ? poss?vel que a gest?o escolar contribua tanto para sua supera??o quanto para estagna??o ou retrocesso, dependendo da forma utilizada para gerir a unidade escolar da qual faz parte. / Disserta??o (Mestrado Profissional) ? Programa de P?s-Gradua??o em Educa??o, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, 2016. / This research aimed to understand the determinants of student retention in IFNMG / Campus Almenara from 2013 to 2014, relating to the procedures adopted by the school management of the institution. To reach the overall goal, the following specific objectives were: to identify the elements that contribute to the existence of school retention in IFNMG / Campus Almenara from 2013 to 2014, to understand the actions taken by the school management team IFNMG / Campus Almenara front of school retention and consequently improve the quality of teaching and, finally, check the possible actions the school management may take to overcome school retention. For it?s construction, it took advantage of a methodological approach of a qualitative nature, but shared the quantitative data, consisting of a documentary and part field with questionnaires to 52 respondents, with the target audience of students and managers. Methodological procedures can be characterized as a case study, since the research aimed to generate in-depth knowledge of a specific reality of IFNMG / Campus Almenara, with explanatory and exploratory nature. The results showed that the factors that drive student retention in IFNMG / Campus Almenara are multifactorial because they are related both with regard to individual questions from the students themselves, as in the actions (or lack thereof) of an institutional nature, the familiar aspects, social and cultural rights in general. However, even school retention having no specific determinants, school management can contribute much to overcome them, or to stagnation or backward, depending on the form used to manage the school unit to which it belongs.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Special Education, Counseling and Student Affairs / Fred O. Bradley / This study investigated the use of the MAP-Works[superscript]TM program that is designed to help retain first-year students by identifying the level of retention risk for each student early in their first semester and communicating this risk to key university faculty and staff. The participants for this study were all first semester freshman students enrolled during the academic years 2012 and 2013. This study sought to determine if the MAP-Works[superscript]TM program and resulting intervention were effective in predicting the retention of high-risk first semester freshman students to their second semester and second year. The data analysis for this study used quantitative data analysis methods. The first and second research questions asking which of the factors were significant in predicting retention were answered using independent samples t-tests. The third research question asking if the intervention was significant was answered using a 2x2 Chi-square test for independence. The fourth and final research question asked which of the factors contributed the most in predicting retention was answered using a direct (binary) logistic regression analysis. This study found for high-risk domestic students Cumulative GPA, Socio-Emotional, Test Anxiety, Peers, Homesickness: Distressed, Academic Integration, Social Integration and Environment were able to be associated significantly with retention from fall-to-spring semester. For international students GPA, Self-Efficacy and Self-Discipline were able to be associated significantly with retention. The study showed for fall-to-fall retention for domestic students that cumulative GPA, Socio-Emotional, Communication, Analytical, Social Integration and On-Campus Living Social were significant. The research found that the intervention conducted by their direct connects for high-risk domestic students was significant for fall-to-fall retention. The logistic regression analysis showed for domestic students that Cumulative GPA, Financial Means, Socio-Emotional, and ACT Composite score were significant for fall-to-fall retention. The strongest predictor of retention was Cumulative GPA followed by Socio-Emotional, Financial then ACT Composite score. The regression analysis for high-risk international students showed that Cumulative GPA, Gender, and Student Residence were significant for fall-to-fall retention. The strongest predictor of retention was cumulative GPA, Gender (Female) and Student Residence (Off Campus).

Magister Artium (Social Work) - MA(SW) / The Further Education and Training Colleges Sector is a new phenomenon and attract students from school who are unprepared for the rigours of further education and training. This could have a direct impact on retention and throughput of first-year students in the sector. Against this backdrop student retention and success or throughput is a critical topic for further education and training in the public FET Colleges. The goal of this research was to explore and describe the challenges of retention and throughput from the perceptions and experiences of successful first-year students based on the assumption that lessons can be learned from this. The objectives were to explore and describe successful first-year students’ perceptions and experiences of retention and throughput a selected FET college; make recommendations to the management of the FET college sector; and to describe the role of social work to increase retention. An explorative, descriptive and contextual research design was adopted for the purpose of the study. It was conducted at Northlink FET College, Protea campus in Bellville, Cape Town. The population encompasses academic inclusion criteria for homogeneity and included all successful first-year students who met the minimum pass requirements for all their subjects in the national examination results of November 2007 and the supplementary examination results of February 2008. Non-probability purposive sampling was used to select the sample of 21 participants. Focus group interviews were facilitated by a semi-structured interview guide. The interviews were conducted in English and Afrikaans to accommodate the diversity of the participants. The data analysis and verification were done according to the framework recommended by Cresswell (1998). The findings of the study revealed that the following factors are strong predictors for student retention and success: Environmental influences within the college contribute to successful throughput and retention. These include financial aid, student support and developmental services, monitoring student progress, study programs and safety of the college. Public internet, library and transport services were experienced as important essentials which contributed significantly to the retention and success of the participants. The participants experienced the lack of an internet and library service, and study facility at the campus a major challenge to overcome. Student support in the form of group support or peer help, study groups, student counselling and referral for rehabilitation services were key determinants or predictors for the retention and throughput of the participants. The importance of trusting relationships also featured as key factors in the form of family and role models contributing to the success and persistence of the participants. Relationships in the academic environment with the academic staff and their communication styles of practicing such as flexible communication channels and democratic authoritarian relationship building contributed significantly to the receptiveness of learning and the success and persistence of the participants.Key factors with regards to the significant strengths of the participants which have contributed to their retention and throughput highlighted by the findings of the study included self-efficacy with its underpinning developmental intrinsic aspects self-discipline,self-esteem, independent decision-making, locus of control and acquiring essentials skills to adapt to student life. These attributes are strong predictors of student success and retention as have emerged from the findings of the study. Personal challenges such as hard times, drug abuse, learning disabilities, health problems and single parenting were indicated by the participants as strong predictors to rise above these adversities by persisting and succeed to enjoy a good quality life. The participants’ perception of education and employment were inter-linked toward an outcome for economic benefit and also perceived as a strong predictor for retention and throughput. Other factors indicated by the participants that have contributed to their retention and throughput, are neighbourhood and socio-economic background. The findings of this research study are generally in line with most of the studies conducted at community colleges internationally, and with some of the studies conducted at institutions of Higher Education in South Africa.

This quantitative study examined relationships of attending a new student orientation program related to student retention and academic success. A research group of 464 students of Tarrant County College Northwest, a community college campus in Fort Worth, Texas, who voluntarily attended a 2-hour pre-semester new student orientation program was compared to a group of 464 students on the same campus who did not attend the program. Comparisons were made with regard to retention and GPA. Ethnic ratios of both groups are 4% Black, 26% Hispanic, 66% White, and 4% other ethnicities. Chi square data analysis was utilized to determine if statistically significant differences relating to student retention existed between the groups. The independent t-test was used to compare means of calculated GPAs between groups. A one-way ANOVA was used to compare the means of GPAs for ethnic sub-groups. The total group and the Black sub-group showed statistically significant higher levels of second-semester retention (total group p = .018; Black sub-group p = .008) and higher calculated GPAs (total group p = .016; Black sub-group p = .019). No statistically significant results were found among Hispanic students.

Using the multilevel framework, this multi-institutional study took different approaches to study undergraduate students’ retention in engineering programs. The study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, using Multiple-Institution Database for Investigating Engineering Longitudinal Development, the aim was to control for macro-level factors which may create a selection bias in student admission into engineering programs. The outcome fed the second phase, which aimed to analyze student’s retention for different populations.

In Fall semester 2021, Sherrod Library at ETSU provided the Personal Librarian (PL) program to First Generation and Transfer students. The PL contacts over 1600 students weekly by email, providing a newsletter with University and Library services. The PL also connected on a personal level with a YouTube video bi-monthly. The program was designed to build a relationship with the students so that they are comfortable asking for help and feel more confident in their ability to receive assistance.

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Online education is continually growing and becoming more widely accepted as an instructional delivery option. Student success, student retention, and course quality continue to be issues in distance education. In order to adequately address the issues of student retention, student success, and course quality, evaluation standards must exist. This study was designed to review evaluation standards for online-course quality in the community college and to explore the results of the usage of the evaluation standards as they related to student retention and success at a local community college. The purpose of this study was to (a) review evaluation standards capable of rating instructional quality of an online course, (b) validate the evaluation standards to be included in the evaluation instrument, and (c) determine if relationships exist between faculty evaluation scores and student success and retention in online courses. The evaluation instrument used in this study was a researcher-developed instrument that was validated from previous literature and a panel of experts in the field of distance learning. The instrument was used to measure the quality of the online classroom from the fall 2014 online courses at a local community college. A pilot test of 12 courses used the test–retest method to determine the reliability of the instrument. The remaining online courses were then evaluated using the Online Faculty Course Evaluation Instrument. Division Chairs and the Dean of Instruction acted as the supervisors of the faculty teaching online. There are 5 Division Chairs and 1 Dean of Instruction. These supervisors completed the evaluation instrument. Positive weak relationships were found and included: (a) correlation between course student-retention and the Assessment and Feedback Item #1, “course assessments are distributed equally and appropriately throughout the semester, (b) correlation between course student-success rates and the overall Course Information scores, (c) correlation between course student-success rates and Assessment and Feedback Items #1, “course assessments are distributed equally and appropriately throughout the semester, and (d) correlation between course student-success rates and Assessment and Feedback Items #6, “assessments align with the course objectives.”