ERIC Number: EJ1180505
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014-Jun
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0119-5646
EISSN: N/A
Factors That Influence College Completion Intention of Undergraduate Students
Thomas, Darrin
Asia-Pacific Education Researcher, v23 n2 p225-235 Jun 2014
Universities are facing challenges in the area of student retention and graduation. A critical question is what schools can do to improve undergraduate students' intentions to complete college. Dropout intention has been studied, yet the exploration of college completion intention has not been thoroughly examined. Using structural equation modeling, a model was developed to explain college completion intention of undergraduate students. The independent variables were perceived institutional support, academic self-efficacy, institutional commitment, classroom learning environment, and social support. A total of 260 university students participated. The model explains 37% of the variance in college completion intention. The conclusion reached from the analysis is that the learning environment is a moderately powerful but indirect influence on students' college completion intention. Furthermore, social support and perceived institutional support contribute to a student's intention to complete college. Academic self-efficacy plays a smaller yet significant role in student's college completion intention also. Institutions need to be places that develop positive experiences in the classroom as this is a major catalyst in the student's intention to complete college.
Descriptors: Undergraduate Students, Intention, Graduation Rate, Academic Persistence, Achievement Need, Performance Factors, Structural Equation Models, School Support, Self Efficacy, Institutional Characteristics, Classroom Environment, Social Support Groups, Influences, School Holding Power, Predictor Variables
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A