Collecting Drop/Withdrawal Data

Spring
2011
Resolution Number
18.03
 
Contact
Assigned to
President
Category
Matriculation
Status
Not Addressed
Status Report

I do not remember anything happening on this one.

Whereas, Students drop or withdraw from courses for a variety of reasons, both academic and non-academic;

Whereas, Low retention rates are often looked upon negatively without sufficient data to indicate that the reasons students drop classes are beyond the control of the faculty or college;

Whereas, Concerns have been raised about excessive withdrawals and multiple attempts to succeed in a course or program and the potential this creates to preclude the enrollment of other students, not to mention the concomitant fiscal impacts; and

Whereas, Most colleges do not capture data on the reasons students drop/withdraw from courses, and the collection and analysis of such data would provide valuable insights into student behavior and motivation that could lead to better policies for student retention and success, enrollment management, and improved fiscal performance;

Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges strongly encourage colleges to require that students indicate their reasons for dropping/withdrawing from courses in a manner that guarantees student and faculty privacy and confidentiality; and

Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges gather and make available data regarding the reasons for student drops/withdrawals to ensure that the reasons students drop/withdraw from courses, including those factors which are beyond the control of faculty and/or colleges, are more clearly understood.

MSC Disposition: Local Senates