Abstract

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Nationally HBCU‚ have low graduation rates even if students remain in college for up to six years. Informal and formal class conversations with peers revealed that current students were frustrated and felt under-prepared for higher education rigor. Students expressed a variety of concerns which included inconsistent expectations and limited resources. The purpose of this study was to compare retention rates of different groups and to determine factors that contribute to low retention rates.  A probability Z-test was performed on university data from 2015-2017 to determine if there was a significant difference between retention rates of STEM vs. Non-STEM majors. Additional analyses were performed to compare retention rates of STEM vs. Non-STEM majors with ACT scores of 17 and below vs. STEM majors with ACT scores of 18 or higher; STEM majors with GPA‚Äôs of 3.0 or below vs. STEM majors with GPA‚Äôs above 3.0. Results indicate there was not a significant difference between retention rates of STEM and Non-STEM majors, GPA‚Äôs of STEM and Non-STEM majors and ACT scores of STEM and non-STEM majors. Further statistical analyses will compare retention rates of STEM majors who participate in extracurricular programs to STEM majors who do not participate in extracurricular programs. This project is important as it provides baseline data to help support programming changes that decrease retention differences.