The Depiction of Significant others in Tinto's “Rites of Passage”: A Reconceptualization of the Influence of Family and Community in the Persistence Process

The purpose of this article is to provide a theoretical depiction of the interrelations between the three stages that reflect the “rites of passage” in Tinto's (1993) Student Integration Model and support and encouragement from significant others as represented in the Student Adjustment Model (Nora & Cabrera, 1996). Moreover, the article will depict how both sets of factors impact a student's social and academic experiences and integration, his or her commitment levels to the attainment of an educational goal and to an institution, and, finally, to a student's decision to drop out of college or remain enrolled.