Retention and success of first year college students
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Date
2002
Authors
Takeda, Cathy
University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Education
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Education, 2002
Abstract
The effectiveness of an Initiative Program that helps conditionally accepted college students
succeed and stay in college was investigated. The two groups of participants (approximately
80 students) were first semester students attending Lethbridge Community College (LCC) in
fall 1999 and fall 2000 semesters who had no previous post-secondary experiences. Below
acceptance level computerized placement test scores were used to establish which students
participated in this study. These students were conditionally accepted into the General
Studies Program and would require remedial courses and additional support. An Initiative
Program was the treatment for the fall 2000 participants and focused on remedial courses,
social, personal, and academic issues. The fall 1999 participants were not part of the
Initiative Program. Two continuous semesters for each group were compared. Success was
measured according to student grade point average (GPA) scores of 1.5 or higher. Retention
was measured according to registration in any LCC program in the student's second
semester. The number of successful Initiative Program students increased from 59% in their
first semester to 65% in their second semester. Also, 80% of Initiative Program students
returned for a second semester. Although 91 % of non-Initiative Program students returned
for a second semester, their success rate dropped from 68% in semester one to 58% in
semester two. A survey and student registration data were used to gather information for this
study. Program recommendations included more communication among instructors and
students and an effective way to identify Initiative students in the registration system.
Description
vii, 109 leaves ; 29 cm. --
Keywords
College students -- Alberta -- Lethbridge , College dropouts -- Prevention -- Alberta -- Lethbridge , College attendance -- Alberta -- Lethbridge