What We Know About Undergraduate Retention at the UO

1. What We Know About Undergraduate Retention at the UO Office of Resource Management Andrea Larson Anji Duchi Research Analyst Senior Data Analyst ext. 60502 ext. 62010

2. Fall 1998 U of O Students: • Demographics • Who are the new students? • 50.2% Freshmen • 42.4% Tranfers • 7.4% Non-Admits • Who are the continuing students? • 94.5% Continuing • 5.5% Returning

3. University of Oregon Retention • First-Time Freshmen • From High School • First Term and Admit Term Both Fall 1997 • Enrolled Full-Time (12 or more credit hours) • Completed Fall 1997 Term With a Grade • Enrolled and Received a Grade in the next Fall Term • 81% Return Rate for Fall 1998

4. Comparative Student Retention: • American Association of Universities • AAU Data Exchange • Comparative Institutions • Similar Enrollments • First Time Freshmen

5. 1997 Freshmen Survey • Office of Academic Advising • Given to Freshmen • 1997 Summer IntroDUCKtion Sessions • New Student Week at Beginning of Fall Term • International Students Not Included • Attend Different Orientation

6. Sample • 2038 took survey • 318 not usable • 174 not FTF • Final Sample: 1546 First-Time Freshmen • 69% of 1997 First-Time Freshmen Cohort

7. Standard cohort Oklahoma AAU National Reports Why First-Time Freshmen? • Representative Sample • Captured 69% of FTF • Only 14% of Other Freshmen • 81% Return Rate for FTF in Survey Sample • same as rate for all FTF • 52% Return Rate for Other Freshmen in Survey Sample • lower than rate for all Other Freshmen

8. Why Choose the UO? • 86% General Education • 75% Better Job • 70% Location • 56% Improve Reading and Study Skills • 50% Cost • 47% Get Away From Home • 17% Parents • 12% Mentor

9. Retention 84% Who Relied on Parents for Advice Returned Fall 1998 79% Who Relied on All Others for Advice Returned Fall 1998 Mentors 5% Others 6% Friends 9% Self 39% Parents 41% People Relied on for Advice

10. 25% Neither Parent With A Bachelor’s Degree 29% One Parent With A Bachelor’s Degree 46% Both Parents With Bachelor’s Degrees Retention 76% Returned Fall 1998 80% Returned Fall 1998 84% Returned Fall 1998 Parents’ Education

11. Plan to Complete Degree at the UO • 72% Yes • 82% Return • 3% No • 63% Return • 25% Undecided • 79% Return

12. Social Connections • Time in Organizations • 35% 4 or more hours per week • 84% Returned • 65% 3 or fewer hours per week • 79% Returned • Time with Friends • 88% 4 or more hours per week • 82% Returned • 12% 3 or fewer hours per week • 76% Returned

13. Anxiety About Finances 76% Not Anxious 81% Returned Fall 1998 24% Anxious 79% Returned Fall 1998 Plan To Work While Attending the UO 19% No Plans to Work 86% Returned 30% Undecided 85% Returned 25% 1 - 10 Hours per Week 78% Returned 25% 11+ Hours per Week 74% Returned Finances

14. Retention 75% Returned Fall 1998 83% Returned Fall 1998 21% Had Little or No Computer Experience 30% said they did not plan to bring a computer to campus 79% Had Some Computer Experience 17% said they did not plan to bring a computer to campus Computer Experience

15. Television • 30% Watched Less Than 1 Hour of Television per Week • 80% Returned Fall 1998 • 64% Watched 1 to 9 Hours of Television per Week • 81% Returned Fall 1998 • 6% Watched 10 or More Hours of Television per Week • 87% Returned Fall 1998

16. Summary • Students who rely on parents for advice returned at higher rates than students who relied on others • Student retention rates increased with parents’ education • The number of students who did not plan to complete their degrees at the UO was too small to significantly influence retention

17. Summary (continued) • Students who had less experience in social activities during high school returned to the UO at lower rates • Most students were not anxious about finances • Students who planned to work returned at lower rates than students who were undecided or who planned not to work

18. Summary (continued) • Students with little or no computer experience returned at lower rates than students with some experience