Study Identifies Risk Factors of College Dropouts
February 17, 2011
A new study conducted by researchers at Michigan State University has identified numerous factors that may lead college students to drop out.
Included among the risk factors were depression, loss of financial aid, increased tuition, unexpected bad grades, and conflicts with roommates. Interestingly, failure to get an intended major, a significant injury, addiction, and a death in the family were far less likely to cause students to leave college.
"Prior to this work, little was known about what factors in a student's everyday life prompt them to think about withdrawing from college," said Tim Pleskac, an MSU assistant professor of psychology and the lead researcher, in a news release. "We now have a method to measure what events are 'shocking' students and prompting them to think about quitting."
Ultimately, said Pleskac, the research could help with college retention rates, which continue to be a significant challenge in many institutions. A recent survey of over 2,500 colleges and universities by ACT, Inc., found that the average retention rate at two-year colleges stood at 56 percent, while it was 72 percent at four-year institutions.
Graduation rates vary widely, depending on the institution. The Detroit Free Press reports, for example, that in Michigan, graduation rates range from 26 percent at Lake Superior State University to 89 percent at the University of Michigan.
The study was conducted by analyzing surveys from 1,158 freshmen at 10 colleges and universities. Respondents were asked to indicate if they had experienced any of 21 critical events within the previous year. Later on, the students were asked if they planned to drop out.
"From an institutional perspective," Pleskac said, "we are now better suited to think about what students we should target in terms of counseling or other assistance to help them work through these issues."
In a related story, The Daily Times in New Mexico reports that San Juan College is making efforts to cut down on the college's dropout rate. A committee is analyzing student demographics to determine which students are most at risk of withdrawing from college.
Currently, the retention rate at the college is 56 percent. In 2010, the graduation rate was 11 percent.
"There are a lot of different problems a student can have--hundreds of different problems," noted Jennifer Valora, the school's director of retention. "It's important we target those students who are at high risk and create an academic intervention plan."
Compiled by BrainTrack.com Staff
Sources:
"College Directs Staff to Address Retention," The Daily Times, February 10, 2011, Ryan Boetel
"MSU-Led Study Identifies Risks for Quitting College," Michigan State University news release, February 16, 2011
"Study Pinpoints Why College Students Drop Out," Detroit Free Press, February 16, 2011, Lori Higgins
