The goal of setting the stage for retention is to compel all campus
constituents—faculty, staff, administrators, and students—to mobilize for the
distinct purpose of improving the quality of the educational experience for all
students. Retention must become part of the campus culture.
A. Mission Statement
The institution articulates its reason for
being, its purpose, and its commitment to its students—past, present, and
future—through its mission statement. The degree of student-centeredness
inherent in a mission statement varies from campus to campus.
Examine your mission statement and challenge each administrator to develop a
strategic response to the goals that flow from the mission statement. The
response should indicate how each unit will articulate its commitments to the
student via the mission of the institution. There must be acknowledgement that
the mission statement is active—not passive.
B. Retention Committee
There should be an official group charged
with responsibility for developing, coordinating and monitoring all retention
initiatives at your institution. The membership should reflect representation of
all major programs and services on campus, with a faculty representative serving
as chair. More specifically, the retention team should include some combination
of the following:
- Deans.
- Department chairs.
- Faculty.
- Professional staff, especially the director of institutional research.
- Clerical staff.
- Administrators.
- Students.
Responsibilities of the retention committee should include, but not be
limited to, the following:
- Developing a strategic retention plan.
- Overseeing the implementation of the plan.
- Communicating retention activities to the entire campus on a regular
basis.
- Preparing and submitting the annual state of retention report to the
leadership and to the entire campus.
C. Philosophy of Student Success
The reputation and the success of
an institution’s graduates are the primary factors that lead many students to
choose a college or university. Once the students are on campus, the institution
must be ready to help them be successful in and out of the classroom.
Remembering that students observe what you do —more than what you say—it becomes
extremely important that your campus develop and articulate very clearly its
commitment to student success early and often. Student success case studies and
testimonials work extremely well.
D. Three-Year Persistence Data
Tracking the enrollment patterns of
each freshman and each transfer-student cohort is a critical step in the
retention-planning process. At a minimum, the following data should be collected
and reported annually:
You will want to compare your data with national benchmarks to determine how
well you're doing. Two excellent resources for benchmarking are American College Testing
(ACT) and The Consortium for Student Retention Data Exchange
(CSRDE).
As retention data become available, share these data with the entire campus.
These data can provide the impetus needed to move your institution forward with
retention planning and the subsequent implementation of appropriate
strategies.
E. Campus-Assessment Data
The most effective retention strategies
and interventions are informed by sound institutional data. Many programs and
services have experienced short lives on campus because their development was
not supported by institutional data. The Institutional Assessment results and the Student Assessment results should be used to inform
the retention efforts of your institution.
Proceed to Step
2. Establish Retention Goals