Staying or leaving the course : non-completion and retention of mature students in further and higher education

Bibliographic Information

Staying or leaving the course : non-completion and retention of mature students in further and higher education

Veronica McGivney

National Institute of Adult Continuing Education, 2003

2nd ed

  • : pbk

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Note

Includes bibliographical references (p. 183-191) and index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

Are widening participation policies having a detrimental effect on retention and completion rates? "Staying or Leaving the Course" explores the continuing challenges of retention and non-completion rates in further and higher education and the implications of having an expanding and more diverse student population. Based on research findings and evidence from further and higher education, McGivney investigates the scale and nature of mature student withdrawal and explores the reasons behind it. The final section outlines strategies for dealing with the most common causes of withdrawal and for improving retention rates. First published in 1996, "Staying or Leaving the Course" is now perhaps more pertinent than ever. Including a new foreword from the author, this edition shows that while the educational context may have changed, many of the issues have not.

Table of Contents

Contents Foreword to the Second Edition Preface Acknowledgments Part 1: What Do We Know About Retention and Withdrawal Rates? The Context 3 Terminology, Definitions and Interpretations 21 Data Collection: Scope, Methods and Purposes 33 Non-completion Rates 50 Variables Affecting Completion Rates 61 Part 2 What Do We Know About the Reasons for Non-Completion? Research and Institutional Evidence 85 Variations and Common Findings 102 Part 3 Strategies for Improving Retention Re-course Contact and Transition 121 On-course Support 131 Academic Support 145 Provision of Student Support Services 158 Conclusions 168 Bibliography 183 Appendices 192 Index 197

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