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Abstract
Problems in validly determining reasons for withdrawal from college are reviewed. This study examines the reasons given by several different subgroups of withdrawals, hopefully circumventing some of these problems. Questionnaires were sent to 1135 students (and to their parents) who had withdrawn from three liberal-arts colleges. Different subgroups of withdrawals reported quite different reasons for leaving. Academic dismissals reported more severe problems (both academic and personal) than did voluntary withdrawals (who ranked second) and transfers (who had fewest problems). Students who withdrew during a semester did so for very different reasons than did end-of-the-year withdrawals. Few differences were associated with class standing (i.e., freshman, sophomore, etc.) at the time of withdrawal. Implications of the results are briefly discussed.
Notes
1. This research was performed under Contract OE 4-10-169 between MacMurray College and the Office of Education, U. S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. Contractors undertaking such projects are encouraged to express freely their professional judgment in the conduct of the project. Points of view or opinions stated do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Office of Education position or policy.
2. The counsel of Paul L. Dressel and the administrative assistance of Mrs. Virginia Gillespie are gratefully acknowledged. Gerald R. Oncken assisted with the data analyses. In addition, special thanks are due the representatives of the participating colleges: Harold J. Haverkamp, Hanover College; William J. Lanier and Allan O. Pfnister, Wittenberg University; and David E. Long, MacMurray College.