A Study of the Student Retention Effort in the New Brunswick Community College System
Authors: Phillips Larry John 
Published: July 2024

In recent years the student population of all post secondary
institutions has been changing. The numbers of traditional high
school graduates are declining while the number of nontraditional
students are increasing. This new wave of students is more
susceptible to dropping out and requires more assistance if they are
to succeed in college. This study examines what the New Brunswick
community colleges are doing to retain students. The New Brunswick
Community College system is unique in comparison with similar
American institutions and differs somewhat from other community
college systems in Canada. It is administered centrally by a
government ministry, the Department of Advanced Education and
Training. The system comprises nine separate colleges, each with its
own local administration and principal. Each of the nine college
principals was contacted to identify a person knowledgeable on
student retention activities who could act as a respondent for the
survey. All respondents' names were staff members in a Student
Services section of a community college. Each respondent completed
a written questionnaire and was interviewed to ascertain what the
colleges consider to be effective strategies to accomplish retention
goals.

Responses provided information about the individual college and the
general problem of student retention; about student retention and
attribution in the past five years; and about how the college is
organized to promote retention.

Reported activities were organized to show how they related to three
educational phases: Moving In, Moving Through, and Moving On. A
current statistical profile of student attrition and retention is not kept
by the New Brunswick Community Colleges. A description of the past
and present programs and services and how they are perceived by
those responsible for them is provided. The data indicate that the
colleges provide a higher and more consistent level of service during
the Moving In phase than during the other two phases. It also shows
a disproportion of student services based on college size; the larger
colleges offer more activities and programs than the smaller colleges.
However, all colleges attempt several student retention programs and
are actively supporting the students they enrol. The study led to the
conclusions that clearly defined goals should be established for the
student retention programs and a method established to monitor and
assess the results of such services.

Résumé

La clientèle des institutions d'enseignement post-secondaire a changé
au cours des dernières années. Alors que la clientèle traditionnelle qui
provient du secondaire diminue, celle qui provient d'autres secteurs
augmente. Cette nouvelle clientèle semble plus susceptible
d'abandonner les études et exige un meilleur encadrement afin de
l'aider à réussir.

Cet article présente d'abord une recension d'écrits sur la fréquentation
scolaire et la persévérance dans les études. Les résultats varient chez
les auteurs selon qu'on se situe en début, en cours ou en fin de
programme. Des responsables de services aux étudiants de chacun des
collèges communautaires du Nouveau-Brunswick ont rempli un
questionnaire et participé à une entrevue afin d'identifier les
stratégies utilisées pour conserver la clientèle. Il ressort qu'il existe de
meilleurs services de support et d'encadrement en début de
programme. La recherche conclut à la nécessité d'établir des objectifs
clairs et précis en vue de conserver les nouvelles clientèles et à la
nécessité de mettre en place des méthodes d'évaluation et de suivi des
services offerts.

Les phénomènes d'abandon et de fréquentation scolaire des nouvelles
clientèles des institutions d'enseignement ont déjà intéressé plusieurs
chercheurs américains. Ces phénomènes n'ont cependant pas été
étudiés de manière approfondie dans les collèges et universités
canadiennes. Plusieurs institutions scolaires ont échoué dans leurs
efforts de conserver la clientèle une fois qu'elles l'ont inscrite. Il y a
done nécessité de créer des services d'encadrement et de support qui
soient efficaces. De tels services s'avèrent essentiels pour les années
90.