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Examining Predictors Of First Year College Student Retention, Kristyn Muller, Emily Feuer, Meghan Nyman, Karen Sokolowski, Leah Rotella

New York Journal of Student Affairs

The researchers developed a mixed-methods study to determine what characteristics of the student experience are associated with college student retention. The study used the College Persistence Questionnaire (CPQ) as the primary tool to evaluate students’ likeliness to persist at their university and then conducted individual interviews with students to gain a greater understanding of their academic and social habits. The findings suggest that efforts to improve student retention must impact student experiences both in and out of the classroom.