Jf. Volkwein et Wg. Lorang, CHARACTERISTICS OF EXTENDERS - FULL-TIME STUDENTS WHO TAKE LIGHT CREDIT LOADS AND GRADUATE IN MORE THAN 4 YEARS, Research in higher education, 37(1), 1996, pp. 43-68
The existing enrollment management and student-institution fit literat
ure generally concentrates on two student populations: persisters and
dropouts. This study investigates a third population that we call exte
nders-those ostensibly full-time students who take longer than normal
to complete a bachelor's degree. By analyzing the transcripts and surv
ey responses of undergraduates at a public research university, we ide
ntify three groups of extenders: financial need extenders, grade-consc
ious extenders, and special situation students. While all three types
are visible in our transcript analysis, we find empirical support in t
he multivariate analysis only for the first two. Extender behavior tha
t is based on financial need is congruent with Cabrera's integrated mo
del of student retention. However, there are few other congruencies be
tween these findings and the student-institution fit literature. We fo
und little influence exerted by the usual measures contained in other
studies that have used concepts in the Tinto, Bean, Nora, and Cabrera
models, such as academic and social integration, goal clarity, and enc
ouragement by family and friends. Apparently these concepts and measur
es have little to do with student decisions to take lighter academic l
oads and to lengthen their graduation date. Extenders in this study ar
e not negative about taking longer to graduate and are generally satis
fied with their experiences.