Introduction -- Research Universities -- Interaction and School Organization: A Contextual View -- Design and Methods -- The Schools -- The Data -- The Social Context of Attrition -- Gender, Race, and Ethnic Profile -- Academic Profile -- Financial Profile -- Summary -- The Process of Attrition -- Departure Timing -- Departure Reasons -- The Character of the Departure Process -- Interaction -- Students' Re-assessments -- Summary -- Structure and Culture of Retention -- A Retention Success Story: Case in View -- Cultural Attributes of Schools and Success -- Summary -- Leaving Research Universities -- Summary and Discussion -- Generalizability -- Lessons from a Contextual View -- A. The Process of Leaving -- B. Faculty -- C. Advising System -- D. Housing System -- E. Additional Communication -- F. Re-Assessment -- G. Post-School 1/2/3/4 -- References -- Appendix.