A Study To Determine the Reasons for Students Withdrawing from College of the Canyons for the Fall and Spring Semesters, 1992-93 and 1993-94.

N

45

Community Colleges; Dropout Research; Dropouts; Enrollment Influences; School Holding Power; Student Attitudes; Student Attrition; Student Characteristics; Two Year College Students; Two Year Colleges; Withdrawal (Education)

A study was undertaken at College of the Canyons, in California, to determine the underlying reasons for student attrition. Questionnaires were mailed to all 2,511 students who had officially withdrawn from the college between fall 1992 and spring 1994. A total of 391 completed questionnaires were returned for a response rate of 16%. Results indicated the following: (1) respondents were 72.8% white, 56.1% female, and 93.5% were continuing students; (2) conflict between the demands of work and college was the most commonly cited major reason for withdrawing, reported by 10.4% of respondents, followed by changes in work schedules, cited by 5.8%; (3) academic and instructional reasons were a major concern for the 5.7% who indicated that course material was not clearly presented and the 5.2% who thought that courses were too time-consuming; (4) health problems, family responsibilities, post-1994 earthquake recovery, and taking a break from college were the four most common secondary or minor reasons for withdrawing; and (5) 46.3% indicated that they either had already or were planning to re-enroll, 12.8% were undecided, and 10% had decided not to re-enroll. Data tables and rankings of responses are included. Results from a field test of the survey instrument, the instrument, and student responses to open-ended questions are appended. (KP)

1996

ED386257