230 likes | 338 Views
Presented to the SMART Group November 16, 2007. The Business of Keeping Students: A Look at Retention at WSU. What is student retention?. First time full time freshmen 1 year rates Persistence at WSU(continuing to enroll from year to year) Persistence in any higher education institution
E N D
Presented to the SMART Group November 16, 2007 The Business of Keeping Students: A Look at Retention at WSU
What is student retention? • First time full time freshmen 1 year rates • Persistence at WSU(continuing to enroll from year to year) • Persistence in any higher education institution • Time to graduation • Reaching the academic goals
First Time, Full Time Retention Percent returning second year
Why is this an incomplete picture? • FTFT group represents about 1,000 to 1,100 students each year • Part time • Nontraditional • Graduate students • Continuing education • Transfer students
Withdrawals Profile 57.6% were in good academic standing Of the Fall 2005 enrollees, 22.5% of freshmen withdrew 18.4 % of sophomores withdrew 23.1 % of juniors withdrew 36. 5 % of seniors withdrew
Transfer students time to degreetransferring with 30 or more sch
Our aim Help students reach their academic goals. Degree Continuing Ed Certificate Personal fulfillment
What retains students? ENGAGEMENT
Engagement What is the one best thing we should do to increase student engagement and success on our campus?
National Survey of Student Engagement “Make it possible for every student to participate in at least two high impact activities, one in their first year, and one later in their major field.” Kuh
High impact activities • Student interaction with faculty/staff and peers • Early—freshmen seminars, learning communities, Service Learning • Later—Research with faculty, Study abroad, Senior Capstone
What can you do? All the advertising in the world can be undone in a second when a student encounters someone who ignores them, gives them wrong information, or treats them badly.