Expert's Study Sheds Light on College Drop Out Rates

First-year college students enrolled in introductory-level courses taught by part-time or adjunct faculty are more likely to drop out, according to a study by researchers at NC State.

The study examined four public universities and found a direct link between part-time faculty teaching so-called "gatekeeper" courses and student retention. Students exposed to these instructors were 20 to 30 percent more likely to drop out, depending on the school, says Dr. Audrey Jaeger, associate professor of higher education at NC State, who conducted the study.

Jaeger presented her findings at the American Educational Research Association annual meeting last month.

Booksale on the Brickyard

The Friends of the Library annual book sale returns to its traditional location on the Brickyard outside the D. H. Hill Library on Saturday, May 17, and Sunday, May 18. Select from an impressive array of books ranging from best-selling novels and fiction classics to engineering, science, and humanities textbooks. The books will be organized into subject/genre categories that are easy to peruse. Proceeds from the Book Sale go toward enhancing the NCSU Libraries' collections and services.