Factors related to minority student enrollment and retention in the College of Agriculture and School of Natural Resources at The Ohio State University

The purposes of the study were to: identify the factors related to minority students' decision to enroll and remain in the College of Agriculture and School of Natural Resources; reveal a profile of the current minority agricultural students; and determine the best predictors of agricultural students' intention to remain in the college until graduation.;Two minority undergraduate student populations were included in the study: (1) 69 students enrolled in the College of Agriculture and School of Natural Resources; and (2) 37 students undecided on a major and enrolled in University College (UVC). Data were collected during May and June of 1993. Descriptive statistics were used to organize and summarize the data.;Findings revealed several characteristics of both populations. The typical minority agricultural student lived in a city or town prior to attending college, was an African American female, 18-21 years old, in the fourth year of college majoring in agribusiness and applied economics. When making college decisions, the typical student was influenced and assisted most by academic advisers, spouse, friends, stepmother, Ohio State Veterinarians, brochures, visits and conversations with faculty and other students, professors and teaching assistants.;The typical UVC minority student lived in a suburb of a town or city before college, was an African American freshman male between 18 and 21 years of age, undecided on a major and does not plan to major in agriculture but it might be a possibility. When making college decisions, the typical student was influenced and assisted most by parents, grandmother, UVC advisers, professors, friends, co-workers, other students, brochures, visits to the college, visits with faculty and staff, conversations with students in the major and career fairs.;Relationships that existed among variables were discussed. The best predictors of agricultural students' intention to remain in the College of Agriculture and School of Natural Resources were attitude toward agriculture as a major and students' frequency of participation in the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) organization.;Several recommendations for recruitment and retention personnel were included. Also, areas for further research were suggested.