Investigating attrition trendsin order to improvestudent retention

Purpose – This paper aims to focus on the experience of monitoring of first year student attrition in a large metropolitan multi‐campus university during 2004‐2010. The paper seeks to discuss the trends in student attrition which have been found and identify key issues which have been and need to be addressed by the university in order to increase retention.Design/methodology/approach – A specially designed survey was repeated across the years and completed over the period by 2,085 undergraduate students who left the university before the end of their first year of study.Findings – The most important of issues which need to be addressed by the university are sufficient, correct and clear information provided to prospective students about the course before they enrol and high‐quality course advice about subject choices after enrolment.Research limitations/implications – Sufficient, correct and clear information provided to prospective students about the course remains an area in need of improvement. Theref...

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