Nontraditional student withdrawal from undergraduate accounting programmes: a holistic perspective |
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Authors: | Anne Fortin Louise Sauvé Chantal Viger France Landry |
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Affiliation: | 1. Accounting Department, Université du Québec à Montréal, école des sciences de la gestion, Montreal, QC, Canada;2. Education Department, TELUQ, Université du Québec/SAVIE, Quebec City, QC, Canada;3. Student Services, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada |
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Abstract: | A collaborative project of several Quebec universities, this study investigates nontraditional student withdrawal from undergraduate accounting programmes. A nontraditional student is older than 24, or is a commuter or a part-time student, or combines some of these characteristics. Univariate and multivariate analyses of student dropout factors were performed. A logistic regression for full-time students indicates several significant determinants of student withdrawal: returning to school after working for some time, enrolment in a non-first choice programme, dissatisfaction with programme choice and courses, and low grade point average (GPA). For part-time students, low GPA is the main explanatory factor for student withdrawal. Other factors appear to be instrumental in withdrawal decisions, such as management of external resources (time and family responsibilities) for women. The results suggest that students would benefit from university support services to acquire learning strategies that improve perseverance. Lastly, in-class learning activities that help bolster grades could decrease student withdrawal rates. |
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Keywords: | Accounting studies dropping out interactive multimedia system university students withdrawal |
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