The Ill-Structured Problem of College Student Departure.

Overview of the Volume.

Intended Audience.

Tinto’s Interactionalist Theory.

Tinto’s Interactionalist Theory.

An Empirical Assessment of Tinto.

Propositions Receiving Strong Support.

Explanations for Unanticipated Academic Integration Findings.

Tinto’s Theory: Revise or Abandon?

Toward a Revision of Tinto’s Theory for Residential Colleges and Universities.

Influences on Social Integration.

Underlying Conceptual Orientation of the Six Influences.

Tinto’s Theory Revisited in Residential Colleges and Universities.

Implications for Racial or Ethnic Minority Students.

Student Departure in Commuter Colleges and Universities.

Sixteen Propositions: Elements of a Theory of Student Departure in Commuter Institutions.

Formulating a Theory of Student Departure in Commuter Colleges and Universities.

Exemplary Student Retention Programs.

Sources of Retention Programs.

Selecting Exemplary Retention Programs.

Nine Exemplary Retention Programs.

Reducing Institutional Rates of Departure.

An Overarching Recommendation.

Powerful Institutional Levers of Action.

Residential Colleges and Universities.

Commuter Colleges and Universities.

Reducing the Departure of Racial or Ethnic Minority Students.

Conclusions and Recommendations for Scholarship.

Conclusions.

Recommendations for Further Scholarship.

Closing Thoughts.

References.

Name Index.

Subject Index.