What Spurs Students To Stay In College And Learn?

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - "What Spurs Students to Stay in College and Learn?" is the partial title of an article in The Chronicle of Higher Education using data from the Wabash National Study of Liberal Arts Education.

Working with 19 liberal arts colleges, information was collected from thousands of entering freshmen on their first year experiences and asked again in their fourth year.

Attributes of good teaching included how well a teacher organized material, used class time, explained directions and reviewed subject matter. The likelihood of students returning for a second year increased 30% when they observed those practices.

Exposure to those of diverse backgrounds was also measured asking if students made friends with those from another race, attended a diversity workshop and interacted with those of different religious or political views. Students with diverse experiences showed gains in critical thinking skills, especially those who entered with weaker academic backgrounds.

Why do students stay in college? Good teaching and diversity.

Reported By Dr. Marciene Mattleman, KYW Newsradio