ALCOHOL AND FIRST YEAR COLLEGE RETENTION: THE VALUE OF ALCOHOL DATA TO PREDICTIVE MODELS, POLICY, AND OTHER PREVENTION STRATEGIES

Abstract

Through an examination of first year college students at a large, urban, public university, this study explored one university's use of alcohol course survey data from an online alcohol prevention program to determine whether it would increase the power of a predictive model for first year student retention. At a time when fiscal and human resources are both scarce and in high demand, institutions require policy and prevention strategies that promise to make a positive difference in the health, safety and academic persistence of its students. Using available data on 4,121 first year students this research identified key variables that, when combined with student attitudes about alcohol use, identify the significant predictors of first year college retention enabling university leaders to design more impactful strategies for intervention including a student-centered policy framework with an aim toward reducing harmful behaviors on campus.