Why Students Withdraw from Classes

Abstract

Professors (N = 30) and students (N = 151) rated the importance of possible reasons for withdrawing from classes. Analysis of their responses to a 15-item questionnaire revealed a significant difference between students and faculty (p < .05) on 9 of 14 items (64%). A factor analysis identified two reasons why students withdrew from classes: personal considerations and course considerations. Professors indicated that students' personal reasons for course withdrawal were more important than students indicated them to be. The difference in these results suggests that more feedback should be provided to professors about why students withdraw from courses.