A Case Study of an Academic Retention Program

Abstract

A 12-week retention program designed to assist at-risk students with test-taking, study and career skills through individual and group counseling was examined. Sixty-nine percent of the program participants attained a cumulative GPA ≥ 2.0 by the end of the intervention compared to 43% of the control group. Further, 55% of the original program participants remained successful through the following semester compared to 28% of the control group. Though retention was relatively better for program participants, concomitant improvement in study skills was not reported. Alternative explanations for improved retention are considered.