Effects of a college success course on student retention at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

摘要

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has been facing higher than desired attrition rates and declining enrollments. To counter this problem, they have implemented peer advisory programs, tutoring programs and a college success course, SS-102, for freshmen students. The purpose of this study was to take a statistical look at the effects on the retention of students who took SS-102. Retention was defined as returning the next semester with a GPA of 2.0 or higher or having graduated.;The hypothesis stated that there was no difference between those who did and those who did not complete SS-102. The questions addressed were differentiated for gender, degree program and year for the period 1987-1991. The study was ex-post facto and thus did not contain controlled groups. Taking the course, SS-102, was voluntary on the part of the students. The statistical package SPSS was used for frequency counts, chi square and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The chi square findings of this study showed no significant difference at the primary alpha level of 0.05 for those who took SS-102 and those who did not; thus, the researcher failed to reject the hypothesis. With the exception of significance in the overall GPA category, the ANOVA findings did not indicate significance. It also showed the GPA's of students who did take SS-102 were higher than those who did take SS-102 in all but one case.;The main recommendation would be an in-depth review of the contents of SS-102. The course has not provided the anticipated results. This review should include a qualitative study. It is also recommended that methods of course selection be reviewed and revised to better meet student and university needs. Also recommended is the improvement of the computer database, both for content and access. Embry-Riddle has recently received a Title III grant and has established a New Student Success Center. This study will provide an historical base for the new center.