Enhancing Student Retention in Undergraduate Engineering Programs – A Case Study

Abstract

In this case study, statistical data was used from three accredited undergraduate engineering programs to analyze and compare two distinct groups of students for various patterns related to program enrollment, retention and attrition. Group A (GA) students were admitted in the years 2000–2005. Group B (GB) students were admitted in the years 2006–2011. The two groups differed in terms of their program-related admission and completion requirements, curriculum design and curriculum contents. Cumulative data until the first semester of the academic year 2012–13 was analyzed. The total intake for GA was 16% more than that for GB. The student retention was 48% for GA and 73% for GB. This is a significant improvement in the retention of students for GB over GA. Further, from those students who aborted their programs, 53% of the total attrition for GA and 71% for GB occurred in the first year of admission. These patterns showed striking similarities when analyzed separately for the sub-group of women students only, or when analyzed for the sub-groups of students considered for each program separately. The analysis suggests that the retention of undergraduate engineering students could be influenced by admission requirements, program completion requirements and curriculum design and contents. Further, first year students require more attention.