Sophomore Academic Retention Associated with a Freshman Study Skills and College Adjustment Course

Abstract

Retention rates for two entering freshman classes were compared in the second semester of their sophomore year. Scores of 140 freshmen from the fall of 1988 were used to provide a regression equation which identified 70 of 250 freshmen in the fall of 1989 as being at academic risk. Those at risk in 1989 were enrolled in a study skills and college adjustment course. Freshmen at risk from 1988 who did not have the special course available had a 93% attrition rate as sophomores, while at-risk freshmen who took the special course in 1989 had an attrition rate of 47%. Although these results may be secondary to the improved GPAs and greater internality of locus of control reported in 1991 by Cone and Owens, it appears more likely that the results are related to the course.