Relative Impact of Interventions to Improve Achievement and Retention in Postsecondary Occupational Programs
This study examined the relationship
of community college programs and services to retention of
students in four community colleges, with an emphasis on
determining whether outcomes vary for students in occupational
programs and how student characteristics moderate these effects,
with the goal of determining what is correlated with success.
Overall, the study found evidence for positive impacts resulting
from having an occupational major; receiving most types of
financial aid; having higher placement scores, particularly in
math; taking developmental math; accessing tutoring services in
the first term; and choosing an occupational major. White
students were more likely than others to be retained and students
who experienced multiple stressful life events, or who worried
about paying tuition, were less likely to be retained. It was
more useful for students to complete all the credits in which
they enrolled in the first term than to enroll full-time in the
first term.
Bremer, C. D., Center, B., Jang, Y. J., & Opsal, C. (2013, October). Relative impact of interventions to improve achievement and retention in postsecondary occupational programs. Louisville, KY: National Research Center for Career and Technical Education, University of Louisville.