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This guest perspective argues that converting in-person summer pre-college program participants into matriculated, degree-seeking undergraduate students at that same institution is a multi-step process that involves: 1) strategic pre-college program recruitment, 2) a curated and well-rounded summer pre-college experience that is both academically rigorous and socially dynamic, and 3) continued and consistent post-program engagement. It also argues that summer pre-college programs should work intentionally with Admissions departments during pre- and post-program development to create the most effective recruiting and enrollment pipelines from pre-college to eventual matriculation.

This study captures the stories of adult Black men from an urban area plagued by generational poverty and low educational attainment. Narrative semi-structured interviews were employed to examine their stories, the factors that contributed to their identities as students, and their decision to drop out of school. Using the cool pose theory (Major and Billson in Cool pose: the dilemmas of black manhood in America. Lexington Books, 1992), their narratives revealed how a lack of culturally relevant learning experiences, positive relationships, and "loose boundaries," together with implicit biases and stereotypes, influenced their perceptions of themselves and school and ultimately their decision to drop out of high school. Cool pose is also used to reframe young Black boys' narratives by presenting their use of cool pose behaviors as a demonstration of strength, integrity, and source of worth in failure situations. This study presents implications for better understanding and educating young Black men from urban communities as individuals and how illustrating their past educational experiences continues to influence their daily lives as adults. Furthermore, it compels us to answer the fundamental question: what more can we as educators do to empower and create successful schooling experiences for Black boys?

A little less than half of the students of higher Ed institutions in the US graduate in four years, and only around 60% finish in six years. Retention rates are also less than ideal. Colleges have been experimenting with a variety of programs and policies to address this issue, especially less selective institutions whose rates are significantly lower. In this paper, we evaluate a student success and retention program called Early Alert that was implemented at a public state university in the US with a medium-to-large student body. Our dataset contains several years' worth of information on students' socio-demographic characteristics, class standing and average grades (GPAs), as well as their midterm and final grades in undergraduate courses. We employ several causal inference techniques developed for observational studies and elicit negative average treatment effects on the treated (ATT). Since it is conceivable that unobserved confounders are the real drivers of our empirical results, not the treatment, we carry out two different types of sensitivity analyses. Together with our treatment effect estimations, they lead us to the main conclusion that Early Alert does not improve student performance, at least not in the short run (as measured by course performance), and likely has a negligible impact.

Pre-enrolment self-assessments are a promising way to address student commitment and retention in an early stage. Such assessments aim to inform study decisions by evoking reflection and providing advice for further preparation. Though these assessments require a solid validation process, so far the consequential validity aspect tends to be ignored. To address this gap, the current study investigates self-assessment impact on study choice certainty and enrolment as well as self-assessment fairness. Prospective students (N = 662) orienting towards studying in higher online education took a self-assessment consisting of six subtests. The impact appeared in line with the assessment's purpose for 68.9% of the prospective students: their study choice certainty was adapted or remained unchanged in accordance with their obtained scores. Study choice certainty after the self-assessment related positively to enrolment probability. Additionally, the impact appeared fair (similar across subgroups), though men's study choice certainty appeared relatively robust against unfavourable scores.

With its direct impact on admissions procedures and (in)direct impact on campus climate, affirmative action bans can potentially influence student retention. This study uses a national dataset to examine the relationship between affirmative action bans in Oklahoma and New Hampshire and retention rates at public colleges and universities. Our findings indicate that the adoption of affirmative action bans is not associated with the average full-time or part-time retention rates for treated institutions relative to those institutions without affirmative action bans. We discuss the implications with respect to admissions policy changes, students' college choices, and alternative policies to increase student diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The purpose of this study was to examine academic commitments in Division I specially and regularly admitted student-athletes. Division I student-athletes completed questionnaires assessing academic and athletic identity, perceived academic support, degree commitment, institutional commitment, and intent to withdraw. Structural equation modeling showed that institutional commitment was predicted positively by degree commitment and perceived academic support. It was also predicted by academic identity indirectly through degree commitment. Intent to withdraw was predicted negatively by degree commitment, athletic identity, and perceived academic support. Both institutional commitment and intent to withdraw were also predicted by academic identity indirectly through degree commitment. Compared to regularly admitted student-athletes, specially admitted student-athletes reported lower academic and athletic identities, lower perception of academic support from staff, and lower commitment to their degree, which contributed to their lower institutional commitment and higher intent to withdraw. Findings highlight the importance of academic integration of student-athletes.

Texting is a universal form of communication used by traditional undergraduate students. Its influence on higher education cannot be understated, particularly as it pertains to institutional retention efforts. Communication with an academic advisor has been shown to impact student persistence and retention. Tinto's theory of student departure posits student persistence is the result of a longitudinal process emphasizing student integration within an institution's social and academic settings. Student interactions with academic advisors warrant further research given the advisor's contribution to student integration. Traditional undergraduate students, age 18-24, were surveyed to examine the impact texting with an academic advisor had on a student's intent to persist. Results indicate a significant, positive correlation exists between a student's interaction with an academic advisor via text and their intent to persist. Texting, because of its prevalence, warrants consideration in strategic outreach efforts within the academic advising function to positively impact an institution's retention efforts.

Evidence-based and student-centered instructional methods hold the promise of transforming undergraduate STEM education and simultaneously solving the dual challenge of STEM workforce needs and inequities within STEM. The Learning Assistant (LA) Model was created to reform curriculum, recruit teachers, and inform discipline-based education research. Numerous studies have shown positive impacts on students and Learning Assistants (LAs) in terms of retention and pass rates, learning outcomes, attitudinal shifts, and emotional support. Several studies have explored demographic differences and found that LAs help close the gap in retention rates for women and first-generation students. While short-term effects have been well documented, the long-term effects on students' college retention and completion rates have not been widely studied. We gathered information about LA-adopting institutions identified on the Learning Assistant Alliance website and from individual higher education institutions' websites. Combining this information with the College Scorecard Database for four-year U.S. institutions allows us to examine student retention and graduation rates after these institutions have adopted the LA model and look for differences in both the student and university characteristics included in the dataset. We are interested in determining if there is a difference between LA-adopting and non-LA-adopting institutions in terms of their student outcomes. These LA-adopting institutions have larger enrollments and are more likely to award graduate degrees. Students in LA-adopting institutions are more likely to be younger with lower percentages of females, first generation, and Black students. No significant differences in the percentages of Hispanic students or in the average costs per student were observed in our study. Using regression analysis, we find LA-adopting institutions have significantly higher retention and completion rates. Since LA-adopting institutions have different characteristics than non-LA institutions, these differences should be considered in future studies examining the impact of the LA model. After controlling for these differences in our study, we find that institutions with the LA model have 4 to 15 percentage points higher college completion rate and they have better outcomes for Hispanic and Black students. These findings suggest that increasing the adoption of the LA model may contribute to reducing inequity in STEM.

Currently, roughly one-third of college students fit the federal government's definition of first-generation college student status, meaning neither parent has earned a baccalaureate degree (RTI International, 2023). This study utilized archival data at an access institution in the southeastern United States in a causal-comparative study using binary logistic regression analysis to determine if first-generation college student status, gender, socioeconomic status, and academic preparedness are predictors for six-year graduation rates. Findings from this quantitative study determined that gender, socioeconomic status, and academic preparedness were significant predictors for graduation within six years of matriculation at the institution. A future qualitative study may provide context for the student experience and determine what factors influenced student success. These findings are intended to help administrators understand their student population and implement intervention strategies to increase graduation outcomes.

The COVID-19 pandemic posed additional challenges for international students in Australia, affecting their academic, social, and personal well-being. In this article, we examine how international students in North Queensland (NQ) responded to these challenges and their resilience coping mechanisms. Using a mixed methods approach, we collected and analysed data from students who reported significant social, cultural, financial, and mental health challenges. Our findings showed that international students utilise different resilience strategies to adapt, cope and survive during times of crisis. In light of the challenges and opportunities that international students face in their academic journey, we argue that higher education institutions have a responsibility to develop and implement effective strategies to foster the resilience of this diverse group of learners. Such a commitment can also contribute to the internationalisation of higher education and international students' retention, which are important goals for many higher education institutions in the globalised world.

Cooperative Extension professionals utilize proven qualitative techniques to collect and analyze information to make data-driven decisions that guide program direction and determine impact. While the process may not always look the same, it is indeed essential to ensure findings are credible and reflective of the data. A codebook is a valuable tool that promotes interrater reliability among teams and enhances the reliability of findings. This article provides an overview of the process used to analyze qualitative data and the steps followed to create a codebook. Examples of the analysis process and codebook development are provided from the 4-H multi-state Youth Retention Study.

This research project addresses the decline in student engagement, retention, and academic performance in a college Reading 100 course at a local community college in Arizona over a threeyear period. Catering to students with low reading proficiency, including international students learning English, the course faced new challenges brought on by the pandemic, necessitating a shift in instructional strategies. Using a qualitative approach, data on drop-out rates, attendance, assignments, and assessment grades were collected for fall semesters in 2020, 2021, and 2022. The study identified concerning behaviors among students, such as apathy, low communication skills, isolation issues, low confidence, and little engagement, exacerbated by the transition to online and live online instruction during the pandemic. To tackle these challenges, the instructor experimented with innovative strategies to boost student engagement and success. Techniques included small and whole group discussions, modeling reading techniques, and leveraging technology to facilitate learning beyond the classroom. Furthermore, the research emphasized addressing students' social-emotional needs, considering the impact of isolation and mental health challenges. Though some improvements were observed, overall success rates remained unsatisfactory, with students still struggling to comprehend college-level texts. Recognizing the need for comprehensive interventions, the instructor conducted further research to explore effective engagement techniques and technology-based learning approaches, aiming to create a supportive and inclusive learning environment. By combining these innovative methods with student agency and an adaptable approach, this study offers valuable insights for educators seeking to enhance student outcomes in college reading courses.

Since the 2016 U.S. presidential election, increasing attention has been paid to rural communities. For our study, we used a multicase study approach that included five states to study the difference between the rhetoric about the need to focus more attention on rural communities soon after the 2016 election and the practiced reality of state conditions (e.g., policies, practices, constraints) changing to support postsecondary education outcomes (e.g., enrollment, retention, and graduation) for rural students between 2017 and 2021. We collected and analyzed two forms of data for our study, legislative records and newspaper articles. We noted inequitable funding for rural K-12 education in several states. While some state policymakers responded to these inequities, their responses raised questions about the unintended consequences for some of the decisions. In addition, we found state policymakers and leaders have placed increased attention on postsecondary education enrollment and affordability, but we found limited evidence that attention was paid to rural students and rural-serving higher education institutions and to postsecondary education retention and graduation for rural students.

The study examines data from surveys and interviews with teacher candidates and local education mentors at a Midwestern university who were involved in a Grow Your Own program; this article focuses on results for the teacher candidates. Using data based on demographics, financial need, and academic performance, the researchers identified eight educator preparation candidates from under-represented backgrounds. Each teacher candidate was invited to receive an academic scholarship of $1,500 per semester for two terms, fall 2022 and spring 2023, with the understanding each scholarship recipient would be paired with a university mentor and an in-district mentor from one of two rural school districts with close proximity to the Midwest university. Teacher candidates were required to attend introductory meetings, professional learning, and culminating sessions in order to receive and retain the scholarship funds. Researchers sought to understand perceptions on mentoring, financial support, and professional development from the teacher candidates while investigating the impact of mentoring on retention. The qualitative case study included a pre- and post-survey for scholarship recipients. The scholarship recipients also participated in a focus group interview. Findings included the importance of the scholarship funds to the teacher candidates that went beyond financial implications, and being selected to participate made them "feel special." The relationships formed with the university faculty and the local education mentors became a "network" allowing the teacher candidates to feel confident and valued; they became the educators they will continue to rely on throughout their careers. The professional development provided opportunities for participants to see, in real-time, the concepts that were discussed in abstract during their education courses.

Predictive learning analytics has been widely explored in educational research to improve student retention and academic success in an introductory programming course in computer science (CS1). General-purpose and interpretable dropout predictions still pose a challenge. Our study aims to reproduce and extend the data analysis of a privacy-first student pass-fail prediction approach proposed by Van Petegem and colleagues (2022) in a different CS1 course. Using student submission and self-report data, we investigated the reproducibility of the original approach, the effect of adding self-reports to the model, and the interpretability of the model features. The results showed that the original approach for student dropout prediction could be successfully reproduced in a different course context and that adding self-report data to the prediction model improved accuracy for the first four weeks. Wealso identified relevant features associated with dropout in the CS1 course, such as timely submission of tasks and iterative problem solving. When analyzing student behaviour, submission data and self-report data were found to complement each other. The results highlight the importance of transparency and generalizability in learning analytics and the need for future research to identify other factors beyond self-reported aptitude measures and student behaviour that can enhance dropout prediction.

Research in higher education has consistently focused on determining factors that influence student success and retention in academic programs. Successful students also positively impact the effectiveness of teaching practices used in a course. Previous work shows that a recurring set of assignments where students reflect on past work and set a SMART goal to make a specific improvement promotes a growth mindset and is an activity students see value in completing. Promoting student improvement should also make an instructor's teaching efforts more effective. To understand how instructors and institutions can provide more support for student development and retention, students at four universities completed reflection and planning assignments that involved goal setting based on the SMART goal framework. Student submissions were analyzed to categorize the topic areas where students saw the need to work. Results highlighted the importance of many topics, including time management, self-care, course content, and study methods. Analysis of the data also revealed that facilitating exercises requiring students to set goals and report on their progress later in the term greatly enhanced student engagement and fostered behaviors geared towards establishing a growth mindset.

This study reports on two key aspects relating to the use of the Online Learning Readiness Self-Check (OLRSC) survey, which has been proposed as identifying non-traditional students' readiness for online learning, and their strengths and weaknesses in six key areas. The first aspect validates the use of the instrument based on data from 199 students engaged in an online tertiary enabling course at a regional university in Australia. Factor analysis verified the scale structure of the instrument; however, two items were removed prior to the final analysis due to low communality and/or high cross loading with other items. This is followed by an examination of whether the instrument might be useful for the early identification of students who are at risk of disengagement from the enabling program. While it was hypothesised that the instrument, which measured factors such as the quality of interaction with peers and instructors, their capacity to manage technology and how well they managed learning, should have been a useful tool to identify early disengagement, the hypothesis was not supported. No significant associations were identified between any of the instrument's scales and early withdrawal from the course or completion of the first unit of study. Future recommendations for educators are made with a view to improving student engagement.

Rising student attrition, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has resulted in increased calls for higher education officials to better understand factors associated with increasing persistence rates, especially from the first- to second year of college. Though many studies have documented the influence of the frequency of student-faculty interactions on student persistence, less research has focused on the quality of those interactions, including potential mediating influences. To address these issues, this study used longitudinal data from 8,475 students among 44 four-year institutions to explore whether the quality of student-faculty interactions influences student persistence and whether student satisfaction mediates this relationship. Guided by theoretical models of persistence, we found that even in the presence of a range of potential confounders, students' perceived quality of student-faculty interactions increased the odds of persistence to the second year of college. Furthermore, results from a Karlson-Holm-Breen (KHB) decomposition analysis suggest this relationship occurred indirectly through students' satisfaction with the overall college experience.

This study aimed to assess the impact of increased student interactions with academic advisors on several student success metrics. Conducted at a large, multicampus, community college with more than 34,000 students, it categorized students into three groups based on the frequency of completed advising appointments. Using fall 2022 to spring 2023 institutional data, the study revealed a robust association between advising frequency and four success metrics. Increased advising appointment frequency was associated with higher persistence rates, earlier spring 2023 registration activity, increased attempted credits for spring 2023, and increased completed credits during fall 2022. This research expands upon existing advising literature surrounding the outcomes of student-advisor contacts with a central focus on community colleges.

Colleges and universities are under increasing pressure to retain students and increase degree completion amid multiple social and economic threats to undergraduate student enrollment. A sense of belonging, motivation, and confidence are foundational to student success and essential components of strategic approaches to enrollment challenges. Microaffirmations, brief acts communicating care, listening, and support, can be a powerful tool within these efforts for promoting belonging. This study examined how 350 undergraduate students experienced microaffirmations and the meaning of the microaffirmations to their educational lives. Findings indicate that students identify multiple forms of microaffirmations and that these promote positive benefits, including perceived improvement in academic performance, persistence to remain in college, and assistance in navigating challenges. In short, microaffirmations provide students with the confidence to continue by influencing their perspectives on self-efficacy and support.

Before the COVID-19 outbreak, universities were already exploring the potential of online education. Colleges and universities throughout the world became more reliant on online learning management systems (LMSs) and videoconferencing tools like "Zoom" and "Microsoft Teams" during the 2020-2021 campus' lockdowns. The transition from traditional face-to-face teaching to online learning presented significant difficulties for universities, particularly those that depended heavily on international students. The project reported in this paper was undertaken in Australia in 2021 at the request of a private higher education institution. A new student-centric version of the Moodle learning management system (LMS) was created to maximise the platform's pedagogical, communicative, and informational capabilities. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate how online learning platforms that are flexible, utilise embedded interactive features and resources, and are freely available can enhance and support the delivery of quality online education. The paper discusses how well-designed learning management systems have the capacity to motivate, engage and retain students in online learning. Academics, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, as well as those working in curriculum development and information technology at institutions of higher learning, may find this article to be of interest and value.

Management education, continuously evolving since the 1990s, recognizes the need to develop proficient management professional's adept at strategic decision-making. The present research delves into the effectiveness of a management course for first-year students at a chosen School of Management, underlining its paramount importance in ensuring student retention and bolstering departmental stability. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of traditional physical and online learning methods in a management course for first-year students at a university in Taiwan, focusing on students' satisfaction with their learning performance. The study aims to compare the educational efficacy of these two instructional modes and analyze the variations in student performance and satisfaction. The methodology involved a longitudinal design with data collection from first-year students in 2022 (online learning) and 2023 (physical learning). The research employed pre-test and post-test evaluations, regression analysis, and Importance Performance Analysis (IPA) to assess the impact of course units on students' learning satisfaction. This study employed regression analysis to determine the influence of enhancing "Management Basis" and "Management Operations" on satisfaction. The results revealed that online learning outperformed physical learning in terms of overall student satisfaction, particularly in understanding "Management Basis" and "Management Operations." However, physical learning demonstrated higher improvements in student scores and satisfaction, particularly in areas requiring detailed explanations and hands-on engagement, such as "Control Tools.". The novelty of this research lies in its comparative approach to evaluating two distinct learning environments during a critical period marked by the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings offer valuable insights into how different teaching modalities impact student satisfaction and learning outcomes, providing guidance for educators to refine instructional strategies to enhance student learning efficacy across different formats. The study underscores the importance of adapting teaching methods to suit the specific demands of online and physical learning environments.

In an effort to improve student success and thus retention, the College of Arts & Sciences at a highly selective MidAtlantic private undergraduate university in the United States developed a for-credit course titled "Psychology of Success." The course, grounded in positive psychology, adopts a strengths-based approach. Students who are on academic warning after their first semester are enrolled in the course, although not required to remain in the course. After four years of implementation, student outcomes for those who participated, across a variety of dimensions--including retention, persistence, and graduation--had better outcomes than those who did not participate. This practice report will share the philosophy, methodology, and implementation of the course as well as results from the first four years of implementation.

In this study, the attitudes of adult learners towards distance education were examined and the study motivation and satisfaction level of adult learners, which are two important factors affecting participation, continuation and even dropout, were examined. This study was conducted in a relational research design in quantitative research model and data were collected with the help of three relational scales. These scales are "Attitude towards Distance Education Scale," "Distance Education Satisfaction Scale" and "Online Learning Motivation Scale." In this study, there were 350 participants, 302 women and 48 men. Adult learners of distance pedagogical formation program were selected within the scope of "purposive sampling method." "Regression analysis" was conducted with "the bootstrap method" to test the mediating role of motivational behavior in online learning in the effect of individuals studying via distance education on attitude towards distance education and satisfaction in distance education. Process macro developed by Hayes (2018) was used in the analysis. Accordingly, it was found that the indirect effect of attitude towards distance education on satisfaction with distance education was significant. Thus, it was determined that motivation in online learning mediates the relationship between attitude towards distance education and satisfaction with distance education. This study revealed that there is a significant positive relationship between attitude towards distance education and satisfaction with distance education. There is a significant positive relationship between attitude towards distance education and online learning motivation. There is a significant positive relationship between satisfaction with distance education and online learning motivation, and in the mediation model, it is seen that all path coefficients are significant in the mediation model of distance education students' attitudes towards distance education affecting their satisfaction with distance education through their online learning motivation.

Many institutions of higher education struggle with low retention rates. One state liberal arts college addressed this concern by assigning an academic case manager to higher risk students. This project evaluated the effectiveness of the case manager on student credit hours and retention using a randomized control trial. The case manager contacted assigned students regularly, meeting with students and helping them navigate college and their classes. We found that students randomly assigned to the case manager earned higher grades, completed more credits, and were more likely to return to campus the second semester of the academic year.

We propose a novel approach to address the issue of college student attrition by developing a hybrid model that combines a structural neural network with a piecewise exponential model. This hybrid model not only shows the potential to robustly identify students who are at high risk of dropout, but also provides insights into which factors are most influential in dropout prediction. To evaluate its effectiveness, we compared the predictive performance of our hybrid model with two other survival analysis models: the piecewise exponential model and a hybrid model combining a fully-connected neural network with a piecewise exponential model. Additionally, we compared it to five other cross-sectional models: Ridge Logistic Regression, Lasso Logistic Regression, CART decision tree, Random Forest, and XGBoost decision tree. Our findings demonstrate that the hybrid model outperforms or performs comparably to the other models when predicting dropout among students at the University of Delaware in Spring 2020, Spring 2021, and Spring 2022. Moreover, by categorizing predictors into three distinct groups--academic, economic, and social-demographic--we discovered that academic predictors play a prominent role in distinguishing between dropout and retained students, while other predictors may indirectly influence predictions by impacting academic variables. Consequently, we recommend implementing an intervention program aimed at identifying at-risk students based on their academic performance and activities, with additional consideration for economic and social-demographic factors in customized intervention plans.

This article explores the results of a project aimed at supporting community college students in their academic pursuit of an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Cybersecurity through mentorship, collaboration, skill preparation, and other activities and touch points to increase students' sense of belonging and connectedness in the cybersecurity profession. The goal of the project was focused on developing diverse, educated, and skilled cybersecurity personnel for employment within local industry and government to help curtail the current regional cybersecurity workforce gap that is emblematic of the lack of qualified cybersecurity personnel that presently exists nationwide. Emphasis throughout the project was placed on community building so that students felt a part of the cybersecurity community. A project community survey was distributed to students as both a pre-test when they began the project in Year 1 at the start of their cybersecurity coursework, and again as a post-test at the conclusion of Year 2 when they finished their cybersecurity program. Two project cohorts were employed, and the survey questionnaire measured students' sense of connectedness and level of learning within the project environment. The results showed a marked increase in both constructs from the pre- to post-survey indicating that students felt a greater sense of community as they moved through the project and experienced increased learning through their cybersecurity program. The study concluded that increased feelings of connectedness to the project activities through authentic shared learning experiences promoted belonging and provided social and academic supports to help project students be successful in their cybersecurity academic program and going forward in the in-demand cybersecurity vocation throughout their professional careers.

Extant literature about the history and impact of federal financial aid is robust, however, financial aid eligibility and its connection to persistence for continuing students is an area less understood. As a result, this study describes how at-promise students articulate their knowledge of federal financial aid policy during COVID-19. We interviewed 14 students who were on financial aid warning, a status defined by federal financial aid policy regulations, to examine what students understand about their financial aid standing and the criteria to keep their funding. Findings suggest students were often confused about financial aid eligibility criteria, even though they confidently expressed incorrect information about financial aid policies. Moreover, students were uncertain about how to connect with institutional financial aid resources and did not understand that financial aid advising extended beyond their first semester. This study fills multiple gaps in the literature and articulates how institutions can improve students' understanding of financial aid policy through multiple modes of communication, intentional interventions, and clearer policies. Implications such as the inclusion of Financial Aid counselors and departments in retention support are discussed. [The pagination cited on the .pdf (p1-24) is incorrect. The correct pagination is p2-24.]

Recent research on curricular analytics suggests that the structure of a college major may impact major persistence and degree completion. Contributing to this line of research, we propose and test a new measure of the "lived curriculum" that captures the extent to which cohorts within a major take the same exact course-taking path as they advance from matriculation to graduation (or institutional exit). First, we describe variation in path homogeneity across both STEM and non-STEM majors at one public research-intensive institution. Second, we show that a major's level of path homogeneity is correlated with the percentage of "locked" requirements in its stated curriculum, but that the stated curriculum cannot account for all observed differences in path homogeneity. Third, we conduct a correlational analysis of early exposure to path homogeneity and graduation likelihood. Findings show that students with average levels of academic preparation are less likely to graduate if enrolled in path-homogeneous majors compared to more path-heterogeneous (i.e., flexible) majors, and that negative outcomes associated with a path-homogeneous major are exacerbated for students with below-average preparation. Supplemental analyses show that this relationship holds for STEM and non-STEM majors, cannot be explained away by the competitiveness of a major, and that students generally switched from more to less path-homogeneous majors over the course of their college careers. Taken together, these findings urge re-examination of the ways college majors can promote retention.

The academic dropout of higher education students represents one of the most significant challenges that university institutions have to face today. This research analysed the university academic trajectory of students who dropped out of university for good. The aim of this paper is to examine in depth the factors that influence the idea of the construction of academic dropout and its relationship with the difficulties of adaptation to the university training system. A qualitative study was carried out in which the interview technique was applied to n = 34 dropout students belonging to three Spanish autonomous communities. The results made it possible to identify and examine students' difficulties in adapting to university studies in greater depth. The interviews revealed contextual and emotional details that contributed to dropout, such as personal and professional challenges and a lack of emotional support. The findings lead to the need to approach the issue from a holistic viewpoint in order to address the different reasons behind university dropouts. This broad view of the academic trajectories of university students who drop out is a benchmark for strategies to improve student retention and success in higher education.

Cohort scheduling intentionally places students in the same sections of several classes (e.g., biology, algebra, and writing) with a consistent peer group and is typically done for small groups (<30 students) to enable better interaction among students. The goal of this study was to compare cohort scheduling to traditional scheduling methods among freshmen in a physiology-related program. Outcomes included retention to the university and major, semester grades, and institutional integration and perceived group cohesion. Incoming freshmen (n = 209) were randomized into control (n = 43; scheduled with traditional methods) and intervention (n = 166; coenrolled in first-year seminar course, biology, and medical terminology) groups. Outcomes were collected via surveys or requested from the university registrar. There was no significant difference in the likelihood of retention to the university or major and no differences between groups in pass/fail rates for the first-year seminar or biology courses. At the end of the semester, there were no differences between groups in Perceived Cohesion for Small Groups (P = 0.102) or the Institutional Integration Scale (P = 0.357). However, the intervention group scored higher on the Institutional Integration Scale's subscales related to social integration and faculty. Cohort scheduling did not impact retention to the university or major but improved secondary outcomes related to retention, specifically social integration and student perceptions of faculty.

The second year of college is a time when students remain at increased risk of departure. Compared to widely available first-year resources, institutional support for second-year students is more limited. The purpose of this study was to compare second-to-third year retention between students who participated in a comprehensive second-year experience program (SEP; n = 2,622) with students who did not participate (n = 4,823). Because students' participation in SEP was optional, we used propensity score matching to account for potential selection bias. Students who participated in SEP were retained at higher rates than students who did not participate, even when accounting for potential selection bias. Retention differences were especially notable among participants and nonparticipants from systemically minoritized backgrounds. These findings extend prior research that meaningful involvement in high-impact practices supports second-year students' retention. We conclude with implications for leaders responsible for second-year programing on their campus.

Helping student service members and veterans (SSM/Vs) earn a college degree is central to supporting them post-service. Yet, this generation of SSM/Vs faces challenges in higher education, including problems adapting, poor health, and administrative constraints, contributing to worsened academic outcomes and a sense of isolation on campus. This monograph synthesizes research on the challenges facing SSM/Vs. It also frames common aspects of successful programs aiding SSM/Vs as three areas for intervention: how administrators and faculty can create a welcoming campus for SSM/Vs; ways universities can create support systems for SSM/V social, health, and academic success; and engaging community partnerships to enable these efforts. Whether SSM/Vs overcome their challenges and unlock their strengths is contingent on opportunities provided within the school itself, and by its faculty, administrators, students, and community. Central to these efforts should be the goal of inclusivity enhancement, community building, and reduction of health-related dysfunction among SSM/Vs.

First-generation college students (FGCS) experience high rates of attrition compared to continuing generation college students. FGCS frequently identify with several other historically marginalized identities on college campuses. The development of a sense of belonging on-campus is one of the main drivers of retention. The current study examines how sense of belonging on-campus develops during the first-year of college for different FGCS and how attitudes about on-campus relationships evolve over time. Thirteen participants were interviewed at three time points during their first year of college. Grounded theory analysis revealed four themes: 1) higher education provides a cultural learning environment; 2) multiple factors create challenges to relationship building; 3) extreme value differences create hard limits around friendships; and 4) within group friendships provide social and psychological value. Findings extend the current literature on the importance of social belonging for retention of diverse FGCS and highlight the importance of intersectionality in this work.

Female, Black, Latinx, Native American, low-income, and rural students remain underrepresented among computer science undergraduate degree recipients. Along with student, family, and secondary school characteristics, college organizational climate, curricula, and instructional practices shape undergraduates' experiences that foster persistence until graduation. Our quasi-experimental project, "Improving the Persistence and Success of Students from Underrepresented Populations in Computer Science" (I-PASS), is designed to augment students' persistence until they earn their computer science degree. Drawing on prior research, including Tinto's model of effective institutional actions for retention, I-PASS Scholars--all low-income, female and/or members of underserved demographics groups--receive a four-year scholarship; mentoring, tutoring, advising; and opportunities to integrate into the academic and social life of the campus. Students' written reflections and attitude surveys suggest I-PASS's components foster their retention by, among other mechanisms, enhancing their computer science identity development and sense of belonging in the major.