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This study focused on finding the relationships between student retention and graduation rates and Midwest College District’s (MCD) resource allocation practices. The institutional levels were the MCD (N=1), campuses (N=5), and programs (N=3). The descriptive three-level, 15-year stratified quantitative study used archival data from years 2001 to 2015 to explore three purposes. The first purpose of this study was to find what combination of the MCD’s resource allocation variables best predicts retention and graduation rates for the community college district. The second purpose of this study was to find what combination of enrollment, expense, and staffing variables best predicts retention and graduation rates for the individual campuses. The third and final purpose of this study was to find what combination of enrollment, expense, and staffing variables best predicts retention and graduation rates for the selected programs. A multiple stepwise regression analysis was utilized to analyze the data. Results from this study discovered multiple correlations between resource allocation variables, retention, and graduation rates. Investments in student services and instruction expense will yield higher retention and graduation rates. An increase in student aid funds will show a growth in graduation rates. Investments in institutional support will yield higher retention rates. Growth in online enrollments, instruction-related expenses, and administrators will positively influence retention rates for Campus #2. Additional part-time enrollments and operational expenses will boost graduation rates for Program #2, while an increase in local tax revenue will also boost retention rates at the entire institution. |
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