Enrollment and persistence of female STEM majors at a 2 -year colleg

This study examined Hocking College female students who were enrolled engineering majors from 2001--2007, and comparatively examined female students who were enrolled in different programs within other majors. Specifically examined were student persistence two quarters postengineering studies, student persistence to graduation, student persistence by major, preassessment choice, and the role of on- and off-campus living. This was a quantitative study involving female subjects. This research focused on the role of female engineering students' participation in the persistence of 2-year students of Hocking College, Nelsonville, Ohio. With the combination of shrinking state revenues, competing demands for state resources, and ongoing changes in public attitudes toward higher education, the responsibility of retaining students is more critical than ever before. Higher education continues to grapple with retention as a significant cost factor to an institution. Tinto's 1975 research concluded that a higher degree of interaction of students into the academic environment and social tracks are contributors in solving the institutional problem of retention. Technological hands-on laboratories are perhaps one of the most effective efforts ensuring student involvement in the academics of higher education. When comparing students who participated in courses that were laboratory in nature, there was significance found in engineering majors versus all other nonengineering majors. Predominantly with nonengineering majors, participation in laboratory courses had significant impact on graduation rates.