Compare student retention rates of comparable Historically Black Colleges and
Universities in Louisiana and Texas and analyze the use of graduation rates as a performance measure for
determining funding policies. Within this conceptual framework, I plan to address the following questions, (1)
What were the reasons students provided for withdrawing from the university before graduating? (2) What do
administrators perceive are reasons for the decline in student retention? (3) What innovative programs can
administrators suggest improving student retention? It was estimated that half of all students entering higher
education would drop out before earning a degree.