| The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of selected factors on the persistence of students in a small, rural community college. The study population consisted of 1,315 students new to the college in Fall 1993, 1994, 1995, and 1996. This was a single-institution study and consisted of an analysis of variables perceived to be related to students' decisions to persist in college or to drop out. A review of relevant literature resulted in the identification of seventeen variables which were included in the study as explanatory variables. Tables of observed and expected frequencies, chi-square statistics, and logistic regression were used to analyze the relationship of seventeen explanatory variables to the response variable, persistence. Regression analysis resulted in four final logistic regression models containing eight of the original variables. Two of the eight variables were pre-entry characteristics: age and high school diploma or GED. The other six were post-entry characteristics and included GPA, program of study, educational goal, freshman orientation, reading placement test score, and need for developmental education. The analysis of the data suggests that these eight variables may be related to students' decisions to persist or to withdraw from the institution. |
