Although access to higher education is virtually universally available, college student retention stills remains a vexing and puzzling problem for educators and legislators. In College Student Retention: Formula for Student Success, second edition, Alan Seidman deals with this problematic issue by examining a number of areas critical to the retention of students, including the history, the theories and concepts, models, and a standardized definition of the term. Seidman and his contributors also lay out the financial implications and trends of retention in one of their updated chapters. Completely new to this edition are three chapters that examine several recent issues: the current theories of retention, retention of online students, and retention in community colleges. Tying all of these components together, Seidman then presents his formula and highly successful model for student success that colleges can implement to effect change in retaining students and helping them to complete their academic and personal goals.

IntroductionChapter 1: Past to Present: A Historical Look at RetentionJoseph B. Berger, Geraldo Blanco Ramirez, and Susan LyonsChapter 2: Measurements of PersistenceThomas G. MortensonChapter 3: Retention Theories, Models and ConceptsLonnie Morrison, Loretta SilvermanChapter 4: How to Define Retention: A New Look at an Old ProblemLinda Serra HagedornChapter 5: Finances and Retention: Trends and InplicationsJohn H. Schuh and Ann Gansemer-TopfChapter 6: Pre-College and Institutional Influences on Degree AttainmentAlexander W. Astin and Leticia OsegueraChapter 7: The Community College: Retention Trends and IssuesGloria Crisp and Liliana MinaChapter 8: Pathways to a Four-Year Degree: Determinants of Transfer and Degree Completion among Socioeconomically Disadvantaged StudentsAlberto F. Cabrera, Kurt R. Burkum, Steven M. LaNasa, and Erin W. BiboChapter 9: Online Student RetentionDaniel W. SalterChapter 10: Student Persistence and Degree Attainment Beyond the First Year in College: Existing Knowledge and Directions for Future ResearchAmaury Nora and Gloria CrispChapter 11: Moving From Theory to Action: A Model of Institutional Action for Student SuccessVincent TintoChapter 12: Taking Action: A Formula and Model for Student SuccessAlan Seidman