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Of the 6,076 students enrolled at Thomas Nelson Community College (TNCC) in fall 1985, 2,389 (39.3%) were "leavers," i.e., they did not graduate and they did not return in winter 1986. Because new students made up 33.8% of the total fall headcount, but accounted for 41.7% of the leavers, a study was conducted to investigate the characteristics of the leavers and why these students left TNCC. The study focused on students' race, sex, age, and grade point average (GPA). Study findings included the following: (1) the attrition rate for the 18-21 age group (33.9%) was much lower than that for other age groups, all of which had rates higher than 50%; (2) the attrition rate for black females was 39.1%, while black males had an attrition rate of 53.7%; (3) the three major factors identified as contributing to attrition at TNCC were employment, poor academic performance, and nebulous pre-matriculation academic goals and uncertainty about major; and (4) the attrition rate among students seeking to upgrade employment skills for their present job, develop new job skills, or explore a career, or for personal satisfaction was 62.7%, while the attrition rate among students enrolled in curricula leading to an associate degree or certificate was 33.5%. (EJV)

In May 1986, a survey was conducted at Thomas Nelson Community College (TNCC) to gauge student perceptions of instruction, support services, scheduling, registration, advising, and general atmosphere at the college. Questionnaires were administered in class to students in 28 randomly selected courses. Study findings included the following: (1) overall, instruction received the highest ratings of any area studied, with over 90% of the respondents agreeing that the instructors were caring, effective, and knowledgeable, and that their classes were valuable, comprehensive, and interesting; (2) respondents were highly critical of student activities, with about 33% indicating that there were not enough activities and that the programs were not very good; (3) students were generally pleased with the variety of course offerings, and most felt that faculty and counselors were readily available for advising; and (4) students' general impressions of the college were favorable, with 93% indicating they would recommend TNCC to friends and relatives, and 90% saying they had pride in attending TNCC. Study findings pointed to needs for improved communication in several critical areas, more student activities, improved cafeteria service, child care, and more responsive scheduling. Student responses to survey items are included. (EJV)

Recent high school graduates are one of Thomas Nelson Community College's (TNCC's) most important assets. From 1983 to 1985, the number and rate of enrollment of recent high school graduates changed dramatically. The total number of graduates in the service area declined 15.5%, from 4,540 in 1983 to 3,835 in 1985; while the number of service area graduates who enrolled at TNCC in the fall quarter of the year they graduated from high school fell from 542 in fall 1983 to 337 in fall 1985, a decline of 37.8%. A look at the plans of 1984 service area graduates for furthering their education shows that 64.7% of the graduates (N=2,676) were planning to participate in some form of postsecondary education. Of that group, 390 enrolled at TNCC, representing only 44.7% of the number who specified that they were planning to attend two-year colleges or proprietary schools. The average high school graduate who enters TNCC during the same year as he/she graduates from high school takes 39.4 credit hours in the 4 years following his/her graduation, compared to an average of 26.1 credit hours taken by other entering students. This means the decline in recent high school graduates enrolled at TNCC will represent an estimated loss of 217 annual full-time equivalent students from 1985-86 to 1987-88. If TNCC is to experience growth in the latter part of the 1980s, service area high school graduates must be recruited more aggressively. (EJV)