what we know about undergraduate retention at the uo office of resource management andrea larsonanji...
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What We Know About Undergraduate Retention at the UO
Office of Resource ManagementAndrea Larson Anji Duchi
Research Analyst Senior Data Analyst
ext. 60502 ext. 62010
Fall 1998 U of O Students:
Demographics Who are the new students?
– 50.2% Freshmen– 42.4% Tranfers– 7.4% Non-Admits
Who are the continuing students?– 94.5% Continuing– 5.5% Returning
University of Oregon Retention
First-Time Freshmen– From High School– First Term and Admit Term Both Fall 1997– Enrolled Full-Time (12 or more credit hours)– Completed Fall 1997 Term With a Grade
Enrolled and Received a Grade in the next Fall Term
81% Return Rate for Fall 1998
Comparative Student Retention:
American Association of Universities– AAU Data Exchange
Comparative Institutions– Similar Enrollments
First Time Freshmen
1997 Freshmen Survey
Office of Academic Advising Given to Freshmen
– 1997 Summer IntroDUCKtion Sessions – New Student Week at Beginning of Fall Term
International Students Not Included– Attend Different Orientation
2038 took survey– 318 not usable– 174 not FTF
Final Sample: 1546 First-Time Freshmen– 69% of 1997 First-Time Freshmen Cohort
Sample
Why First-Time Freshmen?
Representative Sample– Captured 69% of FTF– Only 14% of Other Freshmen– 81% Return Rate for FTF in
Survey Sample same as rate for all FTF
– 52% Return Rate for Other Freshmen in Survey Sample
lower than rate for all Other Freshmen
Standard cohort Oklahoma AAU National
Reports
Why Choose the UO?
86% General Education 75% Better Job 70% Location 56% Improve Reading and
Study Skills 50% Cost 47% Get Away From Home 17% Parents 12% Mentor
Retention
84% Who Relied on Parents for Advice Returned Fall 1998
79% Who Relied on All Others for Advice Returned Fall 1998
People Relied on for Advice
Mentors 5%
Others 6%
Friends 9%
Self 39%
Parents 41%
Parents’ Education
25% Neither Parent With A Bachelor’s Degree
29% One Parent With A Bachelor’s Degree
46% Both Parents With Bachelor’s Degrees
Retention
76% Returned Fall 1998
80% Returned Fall 1998
84% Returned Fall 1998
Plan to Complete Degree at the UO
72% Yes– 82% Return
3% No– 63% Return
25% Undecided– 79% Return
Social Connections
Time in Organizations– 35% 4 or more hours per week
84% Returned
– 65% 3 or fewer hours per week 79% Returned
Time with Friends– 88% 4 or more hours per week
82% Returned
– 12% 3 or fewer hours per week 76% Returned
Finances
Anxiety About Finances
76% Not Anxious– 81% Returned
Fall 1998
24% Anxious– 79% Returned
Fall 1998
Plan To Work While Attending the UO
19% No Plans to Work– 86% Returned
30% Undecided– 85% Returned
25% 1 - 10 Hours per Week– 78% Returned
25% 11+ Hours per Week– 74% Returned
Computer Experience
Retention
75% Returned Fall 1998
83% Returned Fall 1998
21% Had Little or No Computer Experience– 30% said they did not
plan to bring a computer to campus
79% Had Some Computer Experience– 17% said they did not
plan to bring a computer to campus
Television
30% Watched Less Than 1 Hour of Television per Week– 80% Returned Fall 1998
64% Watched 1 to 9 Hours of Television per Week– 81% Returned Fall 1998
6% Watched 10 or More Hours of Television per Week– 87% Returned Fall 1998
Summary
Students who rely on parents for advice returned at higher rates than students who relied on others
Student retention rates increased with parents’ education
The number of students who did not plan to complete their degrees at the UO was too small to significantly influence retention
Summary (continued)
Students who had less experience in social activities during high school returned to the UO at lower rates
Most students were not anxious about finances
Students who planned to work returned at lower rates than students who were undecided or who planned not to work
Summary (continued)
Students with little or no computer experience returned at lower rates than students with some experience