Higher education institutions have already begun to see decreasing
enrollment numbers, even as higher education enrollment is predicted to
drop precipitously starting in 2025. Much of the decrease in enrollment
will be driven by demographic trends about which higher education
institutions can do little, making the retention of students who do
enroll that much more important. Overall retention rates have stagnated
and differential retention rates by race and ethnicity have persisted.
If higher education institutions, researchers, and policy makers are to
improve retention rates, a critical examination of the current state and
future directions of retention research is essential.
This edited volume begins that examination by addressing several
questions: What are the needed directions in theory and research on
college student persistence and how do we translate new theory and
research into effective practices? Are we asking the right questions,
looking in the right places, or trying to apply out-of-date theories to
new populations? In short, how can the research community help
institutions improve retention in this challenging time?
