Abstract:
Student retention has long been an issue for college and university administrators. While
the topic of student retention has been well explored, smaller samples of the student
population, such as international student-athletes, have yet to be analyzed. Within the
student-athlete research, many scholars state that the significant cultural differences
international student-athletes face warrant exploration. Utilizing cultural competency theory
(CCT) as the framework, the purpose of this study was to examine athletic and demographic
variables to determine if any can predict the retention of international student-athletes
through four years. Retention is defined as the continuous enrollment in a college or
university every semester for one eligibility cycle, typically four years. Nine independent
variables were used to evaluate retention among NCAA Division I international studentathletes:
gender, location of home country (by continent/region), English proficiency of home
country, sport, type of sport (individual or team), scholarship type (headcount or
equivalency), coaching change, average team winning percentage, and team winning
percentage in final year of competition. Correlation matrices and multiple linear regressions
were used to determine (1) if there is a correlation between the variables, and (2) if any of the
variables can aid in predicting retention of international student-athletes. Additionally, posthoc
cross tabulations were conducted to further explore the significant variables. The results
highlighted how certain athletic variables are significant predictors of retention, while
demographic variables did not impact retention. Ultimately, the findings from this study have
the potential to help college athletic personnel create best practices for developing and
retaining international student-athletes.
