Graduation Date
1992
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Other
Program
Arts
Committee Chair Name
Dr. Dolores Poelzer
Committee Chair Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Dr. Joseph S. Leeper
Keywords
Art
Subject Categories
Art
Abstract
Of the problems facing college administrators today, the expected decline in the traditional-age student population is perhaps the most serious. Gone are the days of the Sixties and Seventies when the post-war baby boomers filled the college classrooms. This projected decrease in student numbers has led to an increased awareness of the problem of student retention and to an increase in the level of importance placed on it. Where once the emphasis seemed limited to the attraction of students, it has become apparent that there must also be a concern with retaining students once they matriculate. Research has also shown that students who are uncertain about their field of study are at a high risk of leaving school (Gordon, 1985). It is estimated that almost 10% of all first time freshmen are undecided about their major (Noel & Levitz, 1985). This is a conservative figure as it represents only those freshmen who, at the time of their college admittance, stated they were undecided. Since recent research has shown that approximately 75% of all college students change their field of study at least once before graduation (Noel & Levitz, 1985), any choice of major made by the student needs to be regarded as tentative at best. Thus, as Titley and Titley (1980, p. 29) ask, "Are only the 'undecided’ undecided?” This study defined the undecided student as the student who registers his or her major as "undeclared.” Such a student is at a disadvantage in becoming assimilated into the college community because s/he does not have the support and community provided by the university's departmental organization, nor an academic advisor that may or may not be in his or her area of interest. Even though many universities have initiated attrition intervention programs which work to counteract some of these disadvantages, the understanding of the mental processes and decision-making factors which influence the attrition of the undeclared student remains limited. Furthermore, of the four class levels at a university, freshmen have the highest attrition rate; it is almost eight times that of seniors (Noel & Levitz, 1985). This does not mean, however, that the student who leaves the university is dropping out of college permanently. Astin (1975) reported that in 1975, 50% of all undergraduates left school to experience the "real world.” Although many will re-enroll later at some college (Astin, 1975), they might persist on their initial attempt with appropriate intervention. A significant issue facing universities today is that there is a large number of students who, as they take their first tentative steps on the college campus, already have "two strikes” against them: 1) they are freshmen, and 2) they are uncertain about their field of study. It is important then to examine the dynamics of attrition of undeclared freshmen and to assess the efforts of attrition intervention programs aimed at these students.
Recommended Citation
Wright, Amy L., "The Dynamics of Undeclared Freshman Attrition" (1992). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 2446.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/2446