CPI Student Retention & Success 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which early-alert system feature is most predictive of student dropout risk in the first six weeks of a postsecondary course?
- Missed assignments and declining gradebook scores (Correct answer)
- Number of times the student visits the library
- Student's declared major field of study
- Distance the student commutes to campus
Correct answer: Missed assignments and declining gradebook scores
Missing assignments and falling grades in the first weeks are the strongest early indicators of dropout risk.
Question 2: A first-generation college student struggles with 'belonging uncertainty.' Which instructor action best addresses this?
- Assigning additional remedial coursework immediately
- Sharing stories of diverse students who succeeded in the course (Correct answer)
- Reducing course rigor to lower the student's anxiety
- Referring the student to a different program
Correct answer: Sharing stories of diverse students who succeeded in the course
Sharing success narratives from similar backgrounds reduces belonging uncertainty and boosts persistence.
Question 3: According to retention research, which factor most strongly predicts whether an adult learner will complete a certificate program?
- Access to financial aid
- A structured schedule with clear milestones (Correct answer)
- The prestige of the institution
- Campus proximity to public transportation
Correct answer: A structured schedule with clear milestones
Structured schedules with clear milestones reduce ambiguity and help adult learners manage competing responsibilities.
Question 4: A student with a documented learning disability requests extended time on exams. Under ADA, what is the instructor's primary obligation?
- Grant the accommodation as coordinated through the disability services office (Correct answer)
- Determine independently whether the disability warrants accommodation
- Waive all timed assessments for the entire class
- Require the student to re-document the disability each semester
Correct answer: Grant the accommodation as coordinated through the disability services office
Instructors must implement accommodations approved by the institution's disability services office without re-evaluating eligibility.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes 'intrusive advising' as a retention strategy?
- Proactively contacting at-risk students before they withdraw (Correct answer)
- Requiring students to visit the advising office weekly
- Limiting enrollment until students meet with an advisor
- Penalizing students academically for missing advising appointments
Correct answer: Proactively contacting at-risk students before they withdraw
Intrusive advising involves proactively reaching out to struggling students rather than waiting for them to seek help.
Question 6: When analyzing cohort retention data, an instructor notices that transfer students have a 20% lower completion rate than native students. The best first step is to:
- Investigate the specific barriers transfer students face in course transitions (Correct answer)
- Lower grading standards for transfer students
- Eliminate transfer pathways to the program
- Assume the gap reflects differences in student motivation
Correct answer: Investigate the specific barriers transfer students face in course transitions
Identifying specific systemic barriers allows instructors and institutions to design targeted interventions.
Question 7: Which classroom practice most directly supports self-regulated learning and long-term student success?
- Providing detailed rubrics and asking students to self-assess before submission (Correct answer)
- Giving students the answers to review before quizzes
- Grading on a strict bell curve to motivate competition
- Withholding feedback until the final grade
Correct answer: Providing detailed rubrics and asking students to self-assess before submission
Self-assessment against clear rubrics develops metacognitive skills essential for self-regulated learning.
CPI Student Retention & Success 2
Which early-alert system feature is most predictive of student dropout risk in the first six weeks of a postsecondary course?