We combine administrative data from a regional public university with a novel revealed-preference indicator of student friendships to show that socially connected first-year university students are more likely to be retained into their second year. The impact of friends on retention is statistically and economically significant: each friend raises…

Nationally, retaining students in adult basic education (ABE) is an ongoing challenge for numerous programs. The problem is the low retention rates among adult basic education learners in a non-profit ABE program in a large metropolitan city in Georgia. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore how persistence affects student…

Motivation profoundly influences human behavior, shaping skill acquisition and utilization while propelling goal pursuit and success. This study delves into motivation's universality across human endeavors, emphasizing how motivated individuals undertake actions to achieve their objectives. It examines motivation's critical role in enhancing…

As the university student body becomes more diversified and students' lives less linear, student retention carries increased importance for universities, including the conversion of deferrers and the re-enrolment of leave-taking students. This paper is based on a broader research project which explored national patterns of deferral and leave of…

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to explore factors that contribute to the retention of secondary school principals in rural settings in Missouri. The overarching research question this study sought to answer is: What factors increase longevity in secondary school principals in rural settings? The three conceptual underpinnings--rural…

Understanding the drivers of student dropout from higher education has been a policy concern for several decades. However, the contributing role of certain factors--including student mental health--remains poorly understood. Furthermore, existing studies linking student mental health and university dropout are limited in both methodology and…

University and college leaders are tasked with enhancing student outcomes with fewer resources. Student retention is one such key outcome of interest for many policy makers as well as for university administrators. Over the years, administrators have turned to High Impact Practices (HIPs) such as Learning Communities (LCs) to aid in retention.…

Community colleges struggle with enrollment and student success challenges to enhance student experiences and improve completion through various initiatives. Despite efforts, many lack long-term sustainability efforts, leaving colleges seeking solutions. The Guided Pathways framework leverages a college's existing practices and restructures…

Retention and persistence models share common components such as student characteristics, institutional experiences, and academic and social integration. However, few acknowledge basic needs (e.g., food, housing, transportation) and belonging as essential to student success. In this piece, the authors discuss two gaps in these models that should…

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…

Background: While researchers in graduate engineering education are beginning to study facets of student experiences as they relate to attrition and persistence, theoretical applications of thriving theory have not been applied to graduate education contexts. Literature addresses students who persist and those who depart, inherently making…

Student retention is a fundamental issue in higher education, with student decision-making and withdrawal at the forefront of examining that issue. Previous research has shown that personal factors are not easily addressed, but institutional factors, such as the course scheduling process, can be modified. This research study examined how the…

Gamification has the potential to enhance learner motivation and increase participation, thereby improving MOOC's retention rates. However, challenges exist in finding the balance between learning and gamification elements and ensuring effective implementation, as well as the limited availability of established gamification frameworks tailored for…

One heavily discussed and researched group throughout the literature on student engagement is Men of Color. Co-curricular efforts supporting this population are highlighted in the literature about Men of Color achievement (Brooms,2018); however, little is known about the impact of student affairs-led curricular experiences designed to center the…

The increase in the number of years of school within the Jamaican school system has caused the government of Jamaica to introduce the Six Form Pathway program. The program was introduced as an intervention method for students to stay in school longer in order to acquire the requisite subject or experience to attend university or to be employable.…