Path to Success: Examining a Multifaceted Retention Model for Major Pathways Students at a Large, Diverse Research University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-14-2021

Publication Title

Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice

Volume

21

Issue

2

First page number:

111

Last page number:

123

Abstract

This study examines a retention model designed for the understudied, at-risk, Major Pathways students, at a large, diverse, research university. Major Pathways students were defined as undergraduates who initially selected their major during the admission process and while they were accepted to the institution, they were not admitted into their desired major/college primarily due to their math test scores. The retention model included a strategic new student orientation, marketing/outreach, proactive academic advising, and a specialized first-year seminar. The fall-to-spring retention rate increased from 84.5% to 88.5% to 89.6% to 89.7% and increased the fall-to-fall retention rate by 12.9 percentage points.

Keywords

Advising; At-risk students; First-year seminars; Major pathways; Outreach; Retention

Disciplines

Academic Advising | Higher Education and Teaching | Student Counseling and Personnel Services

Language

English

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

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