Should I Stay or Should I Go? Understanding Community College Students' Course-Dropping Decisions

• In Event: Community College Trajectories

Abstract

Course dropping is common at community colleges and often impedes students’ academic success. However, empirical evidence on course dropping is scarce. Our qualitative study examines students’, academic advisors’, and administrators’ perceptions of course dropping at a community college where an institutional effort is underway to increase students’ semester credit loads.

Authors

• Yolanda Michelle Barnes, University of Houston

• Gerald Von Bourdeau, University of Houston

• Andrea Backscheider Burridge, Houston Community College

• Mimi Miyoung Lee, University of Houston

• Lyle McKinney, University of Houston