A Study of the 'Withdrawal Syndrome' at RSCC [Roane State Community College, Tennessee].

N

6

Academic Failure; Attendance; Dropout Attitudes; Followup Studies; Student Attitudes; Two Year College Students; Two Year Colleges; Withdrawal (Education)

Since the number of students taking advantage of Roane State Community College's policy of allowing withdrawal from courses ("W" grade) up to the last day of class has increased from 14 percent of all grades given in fall 1972 to 23 percent of all grades given in fall 1974, an effort was made to determine some of the factors involved in the "withdrawal syndrome." All students who dropped one or more classes during spring quarter 1974 were requested to complete a special form which listed 15 possible reasons for withdrawal. The one reason chosen most often (28 percent) seemed to be scheduling conflicts with work, other classes, or other duties. The second ranking category included a series of academic reasons; 19 percent said they were making less than a passing grade. The third major reason was the cancellation or splitting of classes. The distribution of withdrawals over the quarter was skewed at the extremes, with 78 percent of all drops occurring during either the first or last weeks. The data indicated that the grade "W" is probably not misused by the students nor reserved only to the failing student. (Author/MJK)

1975

ED099086