9353275 Smith The NSF Longitudinal Retention Survey is designed to collect information on retention and graduation rates of first-time freshmen in the RCMS institutions (Appendix 1). The purpose of this survey is to assist the RCMS Project Director in reviewing annually the retention and participation of RCMS institutions' student population in general, and subgroups of women, underrepresented minorities and SEM (science, engineering and mathematics) majors in particular. The survey tracks the longitudinal retention and graduation rates of each year's total first-time freshman population and its subgroup of SEM majors for a period as long as six years. These two groups are further divided into subgroups of males, females, Black males, Black females, Hispanic males, Hispanic females, American-Indian males, and American-Indian females. The data elements surveyed for each year's first-time freshman cohort subgroups include: headcount of each subgroup, retention rates after one and two years, and graduation and continuation rates within four, five, and six years. In the first year, the survey will include the fall 1985 to fall 1991 first-time freshman cohort groups. The data collected initially will establish six-year trend statistics of retention and participation in the RCMS institutions. These trend statistics can be updated annually through continuous survey efforts in the future.
