First-Year Persistence Data
On a mission to increase first-year persistence and empower students to foster long-lasting connections at CSU Long Beach, the campus came together in Fall 2023 to launch its first-ever sweeping learning community program, the Beach Experience (Beach XP). Beach XP represents the university’s commitment to supporting incoming first-year students in their academic and social transitions.
A team of researchers led by Dr. Leilani Madrigal, Associate Professor of Kinesiology, conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of Beach XP in its first year. Insights on first-year persistence and how that relates to equity gaps among students in Beach XP compared to those not enrolled in the program offer a promising glimpse of the program’s impact.
Learn more below about the data, or view the full report.
In its inaugural year, Beach XP served 742 students (13% of the incoming cohort). In this first year, colleges recruited students to participate on a mostly opt-in basis, while also trying to target students most in need of support. In terms of demographics, Beach XP students represented the larger CSULB student population.
The COVID-19 global pandemic had devastating effects on college enrollment across the nation. Students that did enroll may have experienced gaps in their high school academic preparation and many struggled with the transition back to in-person instruction. These factors led to lower persistence after the first year, which will ultimately yield declining graduation rates and degree completion.
At CSU Long Beach, our first-year persistence rates dropped below 86% for the post-pandemic 2021 and 2022 cohorts. However, our 2023 persistence rates are back up, indicating that our dedicated efforts to supporting student retention are on track toward reversing this downward trend.
In addition to our overall persistence rates being up, the 742 students who participated in Beach XP had higher persistence than their peers who did not participate. Coupled with qualitative testimonials from students, faculty, and the campus community, there is promising evidence that this program has had an overall positive effect on student success.
Beach XP Persistence by College
Each of the seven academic colleges and the University Center for Undergraduate Advising (UCUA) developed a college-specific experience for students in the Beach XP program that considered major-specific curriculum, college services and resources, and the unique needs of their student populations. For Fall 2023, the College of Engineering has both the highest Beach XP and overall persistence, while the College of Business has the second highest Beach XP persistence and the College of Liberal Arts the second highest overall persistence.
Historical Persistence by College
A closer look at persistence trends by college over the last couple of years show how much progress has been made. When comparing the Fall 2022 and Fall 2023 cohorts, all colleges except Education had higher overall persistence in 2023 (highlighted in yellow below). Looking at Beach XP in particular, the Colleges of Business, Education, Engineering, and The Arts had higher persistence among Beach XP students than their overall population (highlighted in green below).
Equity Gaps by Sex & Race
In addition to females being overrepresented in terms of population size on campus at about 60% compared to 40% males, males overwhelming have lower persistence and graduation compared to females. This gap is even more pronounced when measuring the success of historically underserved men of color. However, the 2023 cohort shows the first signs of closing this persistent equity gap.
Black males demonstrated a higher persistence overall and particularly in Beach XP, though the total number of participants was low (11). Latino males’ overall persistence is slightly up for 2023, but that increase was mostly felt among Beach XP participants. These figures indicate that men of color have especially benefited from Beach XP.
Equity Gaps by Race
Black and Latinx students have consistently had lower persistence rates than White and Asian students, a gap that grew wider post-COVID. However, in 2023, persistence is up for all groups when compared to 2022, with Black students experiencing the highest increase.
Regarding Beach XP, students who identified as Asian, Latinx, or Two or More Races had higher persistence with Beach XP participation.
Local students have over time had lower persistence and graduation than non-local students. This gap has narrowed post-pandemic as both groups had lower persistence. However, in 2023, we are seeing an upward trend for both local and non-local students and evidence that the equity is closing between these groups.
Long Beach College Promise students make up approximately 10% of the student population and are an integral part of the Beach community. Many of these students come from low-income and historically underserved backgrounds and are the first in their families to attend college. Due to their unique challenges, Promise students have among the lowest persistence rates.
In 2023, 68 Long Beach Promise students participated in Beach XP (out of 616 total, 11%). 88% of those students persisted after the first year, which is an historic high for this group and among the highest across the cohort.
High school GPA is one of the greatest predictors of first-year retention. Post-pandemic, less than 60% of students with below a 3.0 would persist beyond the first year compared to over 90% of students with above a 4.0. However, the 2023 cohort demonstrates an increase in persistence for students with below a 3.5 GPA, particularly among the participants in Beach XP.
