1. Retention: Some Recurring Themes n Impact of small groups on freshmen retention n Does declaring a major make a difference in retention? n Do GPA ranges differ in retention rates? n Does receiving one or more failing grades make a difference?

2. Sample Learning Communities During 1995 and Return Rates n Fall 1995 first time freshmen cohort used. Those not participating in any small group experience are control group n participation in FIGs only occurs in the fall while freshmen seminars and honors track occur each term throughout the year n not all combinations included

3. Return Rates for Sample Learning Communities

4. How much does declaring a major impact student retention? n Assumptions – UG students enrolled Fall 1997 – Declared major status as of 4th week Fall 1997 – Stop out rates based on neither re-enrolling nor graduating by Fall 1998 – Includes international students – Includes all freshmen not just first time freshmen

5. Fall 1998 Stop Out Rates by Fall 1997 Undergraduate Major Status 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% FRSOJUSE S t o p O u t R a t e s Declared Undeclared 3411747117

6. Can a GPA range be specified for those prone to leave the UO? n Assumptions – Fall 1997 admitted undergraduates – Cumulative institutional GPA by Fall 1998 or by end of last term of enrollment – Includes international students (but trends same without) – Includes all freshmen, not just first time freshmen

7. Average UO GPA by Class Level and Status Fall 1998 95% confidence interval Freshmen who returned: 2.82-2.86 Freshmen who stopped out: 2.33-2.44

8. GPA of Freshman who Returned to UO Fall 1998

9. GPA of Freshman who Did Not Return to UO Fall 1998

10. GPA of Freshman who Returned to UO Fall 1998 7% or 190 students

11. 33% or 269 students GPA of Freshman who Did Not Return to UO Fall 1998

12. The effects of one or two failing grades on retention n Assumptions – Failing grades defined by the number of “F”or “N”grades received during 97-98 academic year – Includes international students – Includes all freshmen, not just first time freshmen

13. Fall 98 Return Rates by Number of Failing Grades Received 97-98 Significant differences exist between the number of failing grades and return rates

14. Summary n Retention rates for small groups seem to be higher when students take a combination of groups. These effects may be due to the kinds of students who enroll in two small groups and not due to the groups themselves. n Having a declared major positively impacts retention for sophomores, juniors, and seniors

15. Summary (con’t) n Non significant differences in return rates for declared and undeclared freshmen n Focus efforts on the undeclared sophomore because there are more of them (729 total, of whom 174 stopped out by fall 1998) n Undergraduates who stop out have significantly lower GPAs than those who stay n Especially true for freshmen

16. Summary (con’t) n One third of freshmen who stop out have a GPA of 2.0 or less n Freshmen and sophomores who earn one or two failing grades stop out at higher rates than those who do not

17. Where Do We Go From Here? New Initiatives n Survey Projects – Survey of students who have stopped out after Fall 1998 and subsequent terms – Residence Hall Survey Winter 1999 n Redefine how we look at Freshmen – Shift focus from first time freshman cohort to transfer or other freshmen