The Importance of Work and Other Factors to Attrition: A Comparison of Significancy and Odds Ratios for Different Outcomes.

Abstract

In order to gather data on the causes of student attrition, a study was conducted at a Florida community college to identify the relative importance of a set of selected environmental factors and student characteristics. A cohort was developed from the fall 1990 first:lime-in-college students and was tracked for 2 years using the college's standard student level record system and the Florida Education and Training Placement Information Program, a state-level follow-up system. Study results included the following: (1) fall 1990 grade point average (GPA) and the student's mathematics placement score were the most consistently significant variables throughout the study; (2) students working full-time were between 2 and 3 times more likely to drop out than students n,,t working full-time; (3) students taking college preparatory courses were about twice as likely to drop out as those not taking college preparatory courses; (4) beginning college with a regular high school diploma was .very important the first year, while the ability to attend full-time was important the second year; (5) students most likely to remain enrolled either at the community college or in higher education were young, were employed part-time, were attending college full-time, and had a high school diploma and good GPA; and (6) students least likely to return were older students, were working full-time, were attending college part-time, and had taken college preparatory courses the first semester. Contains eight references. (MAB) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. * *********************************************************************** The Importance of Work and Other Factors to Attrition: A Comparison of Significancy and Odds Ratios for Different Outcomes U S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION oro EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) Thus ocument has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it Minor changes have been made to Improve reproduction quality Points of stew or opinions siated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or poky PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS olATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY P. Windham TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC). Southeastern Association for Community College Research Twenty-fourth Annual Conference August 6-9, 1995 Asheville, North Carolina