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38. Student Retention at Liberal Arts Colleges: The Development and Test of a Model. ASHE 1988 Annual Meeting Paper.

Author

Thomas, Robert O. and Bean, John P.

Abstract

Institutional variables are examined in an effort to account for the differences in retention rates at institutions classified as Liberal Arts Colleges II. The four study objectives were to: (1) develop a theoretical model to explain retention rates at different Liberal Arts Colleges II in which the institution is the unit of the analysis, (2) estimate the explanatory power of the model, (3) identify institutional variables important in explaining institutional retention rates, and (4) suggest revisions of the model and identify the implications of the study's findings. One way in which the proposed model differs from the Tinto (1975) and Bean (1983) models is that the institution rather than the student is the unit of analysis. Questionnaires were completed by students at 118 schools meeting the criteria for inclusion in the study. There were 49 items on the questionnaire which asked for such information as enrollment, size of endowment, and tuition. Among the findings are the following: the theoretical model was useful in analyzing the process through which institutional variables affect retention rate; the most important determinant of retention is institutional financial viability; and only five of the theoretical model's 20 variables proved to be major predictors of persistence. Recommendations include further examination of the nature of the relationship between financial viability and retention, and testing the theoretical model with other measures of student retention at other types of institutions. Contains 42 references. (SM)

Published
1988

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