Retention
The Department of Residence has a foremost goal of assisting students in their academic success and retention through graduation. Many of the department's programs and services are directed toward that goal.
Retention is measured for each entering class of first-year full-time (FYFT) students, beginning with the Fall 1998 class. Retention is measured for each year for each cohort.
Student Retention Comparison by Where Students Live Their First Year
FYFT student retention rates based on where students live their first year compares retention of those who live on-campus their first year with students who live off-campus their first year. Our research shows that students who live on campus their first year are retained or graduated (within four to six years) at a higher percentage rate than students who do not live on campus their first year. Research reports are provided for each cohort beginning with the FYFT entering class of Fall 1998. Students who graduate are considered retained.
Report
Table 1--Participation Rates
Table 2--One-Year Retention
Table 3--Four-Year Retention
Table 4--Six-Year Retention
Aside from providing basic retention information, further analyses is conducted to determine how much ability is a factor in students' retention.
Table 5 summarizes results of further analyses to consider the influence of motivation (high school rank), ability (Composite ACT score), living on campus the first year, and Learning Community membership (either course-based only, or those who also live in groups in residence facilities).
Table 6 offers a visual look at significant items for each year retained for each cohort Fall 1998 through Fall 2006.
