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Giving Up on a Course: An Analysis of Course Dropping Behaviors Among Community College Students

Author

Listed:
  • Lyle McKinney

    (University of Houston)

  • Heather Novak

    (Colorado State University)

  • Linda Serra Hagedorn

    (Iowa State University)

  • Maria Luna-Torres

    (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension)

Abstract

Excessive course dropping is costly to students and institutions. Using longitudinal transcript data, this study investigated course withdrawal patterns among 5900 students at a large, racially/ethnically diverse community college district in Texas. Two-thirds of the students dropped at least one course, and 13.5% of the total course enrollments resulted in withdrawal. Course withdrawal rates were significantly higher among students who were: male, African American, age 20–24, GED holders, academically underprepared, enrolled part-time, and had a cumulative college GPA of less than 2.0. Science, mathematics, and writing courses had high drop rates, as did Second Start and fully online courses. Dropping 20% or more of attempted courses was associated with 44% lower odds of a successful enrollment outcome. We hypothesize that community college students are rational, act in their own self-interest, and perform a cost–benefit analysis with the knowledge they possess when deciding whether to drop a particular course. However, students often overuse or misuse the course withdrawal function. Despite acting in self-interest at the moment, the decision to drop a course is often not in students’ long-term best interest, and excessive course dropping can resemble a ‘cooling out’ mechanism by which students’ reduce their aspirations toward degree completion. Recognizing community college structures and rules (e.g., withdrawal procedures, tuition refund policy) influence course dropping decisions, we describe academic policies and classroom practices that can help reduce course withdrawals. We believe that reducing course attrition is a foundational, yet often overlooked, mechanism for reducing community college attrition.

Suggested Citation

  • Lyle McKinney & Heather Novak & Linda Serra Hagedorn & Maria Luna-Torres, 2019. "Giving Up on a Course: An Analysis of Course Dropping Behaviors Among Community College Students," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 60(2), pages 184-202, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:reihed:v:60:y:2019:i:2:d:10.1007_s11162-018-9509-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s11162-018-9509-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. William Bosshardt, 2004. "Student Drops and Failure in Principles Courses," The Journal of Economic Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(2), pages 111-128, April.
    2. Bailey, Thomas & Jeong, Dong Wook & Cho, Sung-Woo, 2010. "Referral, enrollment, and completion in developmental education sequences in community colleges," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(2), pages 255-270, April.
    3. Linda Serra Hagedorn & William E. Maxwell & Scott Cypers & Hye Sun Moon & Jaime Lester, 2007. "Course Shopping in Urban Community Colleges: An Analysis of Student Drop and Add Activities," The Journal of Higher Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 78(4), pages 464-485, July.
    4. Tafreschi, Darjusch & Thiemann, Petra, 2016. "Doing it twice, getting it right? The effects of grade retention and course repetition in higher education," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 198-219.
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