The persistence rate in online classes remains significantly lower than in comparable face-to-face classes. There is a lack of research on strategies to help learners persist in online classes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between face-to-face orientations, instructor verbal immediacy behaviors, and persistence in online classes. It also explored the relationship between verbal immediacy and student satisfaction. Due to the disagreement in the literature, this study also investigated the relationship between student demographic variables, grade point average, and persistence. This quantitative study combined both causal-comparative and correlational research methods. The study took place at a community college in the southeastern United States. The participants were 171 students enrolled in online classes selected for inclusion in the study using a purposive sampling method. Students were invited to attend a face-to-face orientation prior to the start of the semester. Prior to the end of the course, students were invited to complete a survey consisting of modified versions of Gorham’s (1988) Verbal Immediacy Scale and the college’s Student Perception of Instruction survey. At the end of the semester, demographic and course completion data were collected from the college’s student information system. A chi-square analysis revealed that there was not a significant relationship between orientation attendance and persistence. A Pearson correlation analysis and a linear regression analysis revealed that there was not a significant relationship between instructor verbal immediacy and persistence. A second linear regression analysis revealed a significant relationship between verbal immediacy and student satisfaction. Perceived instructor verbal immediacy explained 33% of the variance in satisfaction. A logistic regression analysis found that while GPA was a significant predictor of persistence, age, gender, and race/ethnicity were not. The results of this study suggest that online faculty should receive training on communication strategies, such as verbal immediacy behaviors. Colleges should also consider using predictor variables, such as GPA, to identify and assist at-risk students. This study was one of the first to examine the relationship between verbal immediacy and persistence in online classes. Future research should continue to investigate this topic as well as other strategies to help students persist.

當企業的經營環境逐漸由封閉走向開放的同時，對於外部環境的管理就益 發突顯其重要性；而臺灣地區金融機構在長達數十年的封閉後，終於在民 國八十年十五家新銀行的開放設立，邁開自由化之途，所以此番十五家新 銀行的開放設立，對於臺灣的金融發展深具意義。此外，在企業對於外部 環境的各種管理方式中，董監事連結可能是最具彈性且最易施行的方法之 一。因此，本研究乃以此十五家新銀行為對象，研究新銀行的董監事連結 行為，研究目的主要有四：一、了解十五家新銀行董事、監事的組成，以 及新銀行與外部組織間的董監事連結型態。二、了解新銀行董事會規模、 組成、以及董監事連結型態間之關連性。三、了解新銀行組織特性，對新 銀行董事會規模、組成、以及董監事連結型態的影響。四、了解新銀行董 監事連結型態，對新銀行經營績效的影響。研究方法方面，主要是利用次 級資料的蒐集與適度的人員訪談，以獲致十五家新銀行的董監事連結與研 究所需的其他相關資料。其次，利用敘述性統計技術，對新銀行的董監事 連結行為進行內容分析，以了解新銀行設立初期的董監事連結行為。最後 ，更透過相關、迴歸、及分組變異數分析等技術，對新銀行董監事連結與 組織特性、經營績效間之關係進行驗證。本研究主要發現與結果有：一、 新銀行存有相當程度的董監事連結行為，而且個別銀行間在董事會規模、 組成、以及董監事連結上，亦存有相當大的差異。二、新銀行的董監事連 結對象，以國內大型企業或集團為主；不過，與其他金融機構間的董監事 連結（水平連結）情形並不顯著。三、新銀行董事會規模、組成、以及董 監事連結等連結行為變數間並無顯著的關係存在。四、新銀行的組織規模 與董事會規模及組成無顯著的關係存在；不過，卻與董監事連結成正向的 關係，尤其是方向性連結。五、新銀行的股權集中度與董事會規模成顯著 負相關，不過與董事會組成及董監事連結間卻無顯著的關係存在。六、以 中南部地區為營運重心的新銀行，董事會規模和外部董事比例均較以北部 為重心的新銀行為高，但是內部、專業董事比例、及董監事連結卻反而較 低。因此，由於各銀行地理營運重心的不同，將可能導致不同程度的董監 事連結行為。七、新銀行董監事連結與各經營績效指標間，除了與金融卡 發卡量存有較顯著正向關係外，其餘各項經營績效指標與董監事連結間並 無顯著關係存在。