Retention of College Freshmen

Paper Summary:

This paper provides a discussion of how to bridge the gap between recruitment and retention of college students, including strategies and theories used by today's college student services professionals in easing the transition from high school to college. An examination of how educators can effectively pass the baton of responsibility is followed by a summary of the research. The author believes there are effective tools which university professionals can use to help students through the obstacles faced in their freshman year.

Outline:
Introduction
Review and Discussion
Background and Overview
Bridging the Gap between Recruitment and Retention
Strategies and Theories
Transference of Responsibility
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Given the importance of completing a college education in today's society, it is not surprising that there has been an increasing amount of attention paid to college student development issues in recent years (Tanaka, 2002; Deberard, Julka, & Spielmans, 2004). Indeed, there is much to be considered when entering college for the first time, but many young learners may not recognize all that is involved, or the implications of their decisions along the way. For example, according to Feldman (2005), "Every day, students make decisions that affect their ability to complete a degree. They weigh some of these choices carefully, such as which college to attend. Yet they underestimate the impact of many other choices, such as whether to drop a course or accept more hours at work, not understanding the cumulative effect these decisions might have on their likelihood of completing a degree" (p. 3). In fact, educators are acutely aware that college coursework requires a level of responsibility and maturity that some young learners may not yet have acquired, and the potential for failure is high for these students if they are not providing with the support services they need at this crucial juncture in their academic careers. ..."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Benjamin, M. (1996). Diversity, educational equity, and the transformation of higher education: Group profiles as a guide to policy and programming. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers.
• Chiang, L., Hunter, C. D., & Yeh, C. J. (2004). Coping attitudes, sources and practices among Black and Latino college students. Adolescence, 39(156), 793.
• Chickering, A. W. (1969). Education and identity. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
• Crosling, G., & Webb, G. (2002). Supporting student learning: Case studies, experience & practice from higher education. London: Kogan Page.
• Deberard, M. S., Julka, D. L., & Spielmans, G. I. (2004). Predictors of academic achievement and retention among college freshmen: A longitudinal study. College Student Journal, 38(1), 66.

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