Shared Faculty–Student Lifestyle Habits and Their Implications for College Student Retention

Abstract

Previous research confirms that first-semester grade-point average (GPA) is related to college student persistence, retention, and graduation. Thus, it is important to identify factors related to enhancing first-semester GPA. In this study, researchers asked faculty and students in the disciplines of journalism, strategic communication or public relations, mass media production and design, motion picture or film, and mass media in general, to rate themselves on success-related lifestyle habits. Students were grouped according to five GPA categories, and each GPA group's survey responses were compared with faculty survey responses and with every other GPA group's responses. Statistical analyses identified five highly differentiating lifestyle habits that separated both faculty and the highest GPA group from all other GPA groups. Because these five habits related so closely to higher-level GPAs, one major implication of the findings is that institutions could improve retention by encouraging freshmen to develop these five critical lifestyle habits.

College students’ comparative focus on grades, career preparation, and educated citizenry.

“…This situation has led universities in both the United States and Canada to place newfound emphasis on student retention as a way to sustain and grow (Hanover Research, 2014). Despite current retention efforts, conservative estimates are that over one third of students entering public universities fail to graduate within 6 years, creating financial burden for individuals, institutions, and society (Boateng, Plopper, & Keith, 2016; Shapiro, Dunbar, Ziskin, Yaun, & Harrell, 2013). Thus, it is useful to examine factors that relate to student success and persistence toward graduation.…”