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Factors Affecting Attrition at a Canadian College
Roger Fisher, PhDFanshawe College
Colleges Ontario Retention ConferenceMay 19, 2010
Funding Sponsor:
Canadian Council on Learning (CCL)
Central Research Question:
What are the key factors associated with attrition specifically at a Canadian community college?
Methodology:
• Longitudinal tracking of Fanshawe College’s Fall 2007 incoming cohort (n = 6,447) over 3 consecutive semesters
• Analysis: correlation of changes in enrolment status with 5 attrition factors
Independent Variables:Attrition Factors
Dependent Variables: Enrolment Status
• Date of admission
• Program choice
• Gender
• Academic preparedness
• Student engagement
ACTIVE(enrolled/graduated, Fall 2008)
or
NON-ACTIVE(not enrolled/graduated, Fall 2008)
Retention/Attrition(Fall 2007, n = 6,447)
Retention/Attrition(Fall 2007, n = 6,447)
Attritionby Date of Admission
36%
41%42%
48%
50%
35%
40%
45%
50%
55%
May June July Aug. Sept.
%
Retention/Attrition by Date of Admission
3399
191 236 160 65
1882
132 172 147 640
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
May June July Aug. Sept.
Active Non-Active
# of
Stu
dent
s
Independent Variables:Attrition Factors
Dependent Variables: Enrolment Status
• Date of admission
• Program choice
• Gender
• Academic preparedness
• Student engagement
ACTIVE(enrolled/graduated, Fall 2008)
or
NON-ACTIVE(not enrolled/graduated, Fall 2008)
36%38% 38%
43%46%
57%
30%
40%
50%
60%
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Other
Attrition by Program Choice
%
Retention/Attrition by Program Choice
2645
761
372134 87 40
1494
458232
99 73 520
1,000
2,000
3,000
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Other
Active Non-Active
# of
Stu
dent
s
Independent Variables:Attrition Factors
Dependent Variables: Enrolment Status
• Date of admission
• Program choice
• Gender
• Academic preparedness
• Student engagement
ACTIVE(enrolled/graduated, Fall 2008)
or
NON-ACTIVE(not enrolled/graduated, Fall 2008)
Retention/Attrition by Gender
Retention/Attrition by Academic Upgrading (n = 1,195)
Retention/Attrition (n = 142)by Student Engagement Scores (out of 5)
4.29
1.75 1.7
2.40
3.483.10
0
1
2
3
4
5
Student Engagement Score
Feel Socially Isolated Feel Like a Number
Mea
n Sc
ore
Active Non-Active
Student Focus Group Comments:
• “sense of community”
• “feeling of belonging”
• “people care about my success”
• “personal, one-on-one connections”
• “almost like a family”
• “like a home away from home”
• “they treat you like an individual, not just another student paying tuition”
What Students Want/NeedPresident, Fanshawe College Student Union (2007)
• “Students need human interaction.”
• “Students want teachers who relate to students.”
• “An understanding teacher, even just one time, can make all the difference in a student’s entire experience.”
Retention/Attrition(Fall 2007, n = 6,447)
Independent Variables:Attrition Factors
Dependent Variables: Enrolment Status
• Date of admission• Program choice• Gender (males leave at slightly higher rate)
• Academic under-preparedness (students who did not successfully complete academic upgrading)
• Weak student engagement (students who felt socially isolated, weaksense of belonging to a community)
NON-ACTIVE(not enrolled after 1 year)
