Content area
Full Text
The purpose of this study was to examine student retention and student success in high school, college, and university. Areas studied include: definition of student retention and student success, college success and student success, variables impacting student success, factors affecting graduation rates from underrepresented populations, ways of helping students stay in school, how Ohio State University and Clark School of Engineering retained students. The study found that supportive staffs, focusing on students' individual and academic needs, and positive modeling, enhance student retention. The learning processes must be alive from the first day of class and must be taught by caring faculty.
INTRODUCTION
In the recent years, administrators in high schools, colleges, and universities have been concerned about the retention of students in their programs (Stuart, 2010; Fowler & Luna, 2009; Powell, 2009; Supiano, 2009; Farvardin, 2007; Kitto, 2006). Powell (2009) citing Tinto (2006-2007) indicated, "Student retention is one of the most widely studied areas in higher education" (Powell, 2009, para.8). The term "retention" sounds negative, but it is important policy makers, educators, and parents spend a great deal of money in education demanding very little if nothing from our students; hence, studies have been organized to measure student success and learning effectiveness (Kim, Newton, Downey, & Benton, 2010).
Hall (2010) discussed leading change through innovation by providing "examples of successful partnerships between community colleges and public high schools, approaches to developing and maintaining a strategic plan that is inclusive of all stakeholders (especially adjunct faculty members), and strategies to engage alienated students through technology, just to name a few" (para. 1). Fowler and Luna (2009) suggested that high school and college partnership credit-based- programs might enhance student retention and success by showing benefits including the following: (a) cost effectiveness by saving time and money; (b) retention by building bridge programs and increasing options for potential college bound students; (c) increased graduation rates, because of connecting high school students with academically learning and challenging environments; and, (d) providing starting points for educational leaders by helping students make successful transitions from high to college (para.29-40).
RESEARCH METHOD
The Rationale of the Study
As an educator, I have noticed the plummeting graduation rates of high school, college, and university students. I decided to do this study...