The Effect Participating In A Pre-Veterinary Learning Community Or Freshmen Interest Group (FIG) Has On The Odds New Animal Science Majors Graduate

Abstract

All first-year students who entered the University of Missouri-Columbia as animal science majors between the fall of 1998 and 2004 (n = 619) had the opportunity to participate in a residentially-based Freshmen Interest Group (FIG) and/or a learning community specifically designed for them.The odds of graduating is significant for all three program levels (i.e. FIG, LC, Neither).However, after controlling for entering characteristics (i.e., ACT score, high school GPA, gender, and ethnicity), the students who participated in FIGs have significantly higher odds than those who participated in neither program (Odds ratio 1.698; p < .0245).The odds for students who participated in only the learning community but not the FIG were not significantly different from those who participated in neither program (Odds ratio = 1.387; p > .287).This study contributes to the growing body of literature regarding the efficacy of an intentionally designed program, such as FIGs, which integrate the curricular and residential experiences of first-year students.