Developing A Freshman Orientation Survey to Improve Student Retention Within A College

With growing concerns over higher education accountability and diminishing resources, student retention rates and the reasons why students remain at a post-secondary institution continue to persist. Since the 1960s, researchers have examined cognitive and non-cognitive factors that impact whether or not students stay at a particular post-secondary institution until graduation. The purpose of this study was to develop the Freshman Orientation Survey for the College of Education and Health Professions to improve student retention. Using the constructs, which were presented in peer-reviewed literature along with a peer-review process within the College, a survey instrument was developed to examine pre-college enrollment characteristics for a College within a four-year state university in the Southeastern United States. The instrument was piloted with alumni from the College, and the psychometric properties of the instrument were determined. The survey was found to be an internally consistent measure, and it was found to have convergent validity and discriminate validity.