A study of the relationship between student retention and mathematics and statistics support in an Australian university

This study examines results from 39,538 student enrolments into mathematics or statistics intensive subjects over a seven-year period at one Australian university. Students' interactions with mathematics and statistics support are used as a controlling variable to determine how attrition rates differ between students who utilise support and those who do not. We also investigate the differences for several student subgroups, particularly those groups who are most likely to be 'at risk' of abandoning their studies. In almost all cases students who availed themselves of support services were significantly less likely to be attrited. On average students who did not use mathematics and statistics support were 1.5 times more likely to be attrited than those who did use support. We identify cohorts where mathematics and statistics support could be best targeted to improve retention and include several areas for future research.