Alfred P. Rovai
In search of higher persistence rates in distance education online programs
Regent University
tintos rev educ res 45 1975 89 tinto v 1987 leaving college chicago university chicago press tinto v 1993 leaving college rethinking causes cures student attrition chicago university chicago press student integration model bean metzners rev educ res 55 1985 485 student attrition model influential explaining persistence attrition higher education programs however models developed oncampus programs mind although broadly relevant distance education programs ability explain persistence online students limited distance education students characteristics needs differ traditional learners virtual learning environment differs important ways oncampus environment article draws chiefly tintos bean metzners models results research needs online distance education students order synthesize composite model better explain persistence attrition among largely nontraditional students enroll online courses