A Model To Marry Recruitment and Retention: A Case Study of Prototype Development in the New Administration of Justice Program @ Blue Ridge Community College.

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Bibliographic Details
Title: A Model To Marry Recruitment and Retention: A Case Study of Prototype Development in the New Administration of Justice Program @ Blue Ridge Community College.
Language: English
Authors: Stewart, Donna L., Levin, Bernard H.
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 19
Publication Date: 2001
Document Type: Reports - Research
Speeches/Meeting Papers
Descriptors: Academic Achievement, Academic Persistence, Community Colleges, Data Analysis, Models, Program Evaluation, Research Design, Research Methodology, School Holding Power, Statistical Analysis, Student Characteristics, Two Year Colleges
Abstract: This paper presents findings on predictive models used to identify student characteristics associated with persistence and success in the Administration of Justice (ADJ) program at Blue Ridge Community College (Virginia). Data mining was used to discover patterns and relationships in the data, and analysis was performed using the SPSS program, CLEMENTINE. The sample consisted of students in introductory classes in the ADJ program (n=139) and transfer students (n=386) in similar introductory courses. Through an inductive process of examining data, certain unexpected factors were found to be predictors of student success in these courses. Besides the student's GPA, factors like the cumulative hours attempted and cumulative hours completed without the ADJ courses were significant. It appeared that students who had more credit hours before entering the ADJ classes showed higher rates of persistence; therefore, new students were more at risk. Additional analysis using a neural network model revealed the relative predicting power of various student characteristics. Included in this analysis were variables such as age, race, financial aid awards, and participation in developmental education programs. From this exploratory approach to analyzing data, findings have informed the institution's knowledge of its faculty, programs, and students. (JCC)
Entry Date: 2002
Accession Number: ED463792
Database: ERIC
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