Examining the Impact Learning Communities Have on College of Education Students on an Urban Campus

Student attrition is a problem in universities. A systems perspective describing both departure and retention is helpful in explaining the circumstances in which student retention is increased, particularly for students traditionally excluded from university participation. Risk factors for departure include poor preparation for college and belonging to a demographic group traditionally excluded from academia. We sought to evaluate the impact of participation in a Learning Community on student retention at an urban public research university. We included all students who had been accepted into the College of Education at Level 1 for the fall 2007 semester. We found that involvement in a Learning Community, whether it is specifically formed to address and promote student success in a given area/major, or in a more general/university-wide Learning Community improves student retention.