Recreate and Retain: How Entrance Into a Campus Recreation Facility Impacts Retention

Abstract

This study explored the rates of retention among students who entered a campus recreation facility. The purpose of the study was to determine the statistical significance of the rates of retention within several commonly studied demographic categories. Recent research in the field reported that student participation in campus recreation programs contributes to student retention. The researchers in this study also sought to determine whether there was a significant impact on campus recreation participants to return not only to the campus recreation center but to the university during the following fall term. Data were collected during a specific spring and subsequent fall semester to determine whether those who entered the recreation center during the spring enrolled in the fall term. Student entries were initially categorized by the number of visits 1–30, 31–60, 61–90, and 91–120 and were compared to students who did not enter. A χ2 analysis was conducted to compare the data collected from spring to fall terms and the results were separated by gender and overall participation. This suggests a positive relationship between entry into the recreation center and student retention from the spring to fall terms.