A study of retention of freshmen students in the College of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Wisconsin -Milwaukee

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) is part of the University of Wisconsin System. Six of the undergraduate programs are in the College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS).;The reports and documentation released by the Provost's Office indicate that the retention rate of freshmen to sophomore year students at UWM from 1992 to 1998 is approximately 71%. However, the retention rate of students in CEAS is approximately 41%. This study examined the retention rates of the top 13 schools of engineering listed in the U.S. News & World Report (March 1999) and the Urban 13 List (a list of 21 schools with similar demographics as UWM).;The researcher used data from the literature review, advising notes, a one-on-one re-entry contract, evaluations from a freshmen orientation class, a comparison of retention rates and rankings of schools with similar characteristics, interviews with similar schools with high retention rates and the results of survey administered to students in CEAS at UWM, to determine what components impacted or contributed to the success of their freshman year. This data is used to provide measures, strategies, and techniques to improve the retention rate in the College of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee as well as assisting students in reaching their academic and career goals.