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Recreation Strategies For The Retention Of First-Semester College Students, Richard P. Chesterman

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The high dropout rate of first-semester freshmen in a small, church-related college was addressed by the implementation of an organized recreation/activity strategy. This strategy was designed to provide appropriate entertainment and to contribute to a positive environment in order to integrate first-semester freshmen into the college environment and thereby increase retention. Evaluation instruments measured student--as well as faculty, staff, and administration--satisfaction with the campus environment and social/recreational activities. Moreover participation was monitored to assess the level of involvement. The writer concluded that the greater the level of participation in relevant organized activities emphasizing social integration, the greater the level of …