Murray State University Retention
Plan – How the Business Office
Effects Retention
Presented by: Anita Poynor –
Bursar/Assistant Director for Student
Services Accounting
Murray State University
Retention Timeline
• A comprehensive strategy of services and
follow-up with students to assist with
academic and social adjustment and
problems.
Retention Alert Program
• A system for faculty to send a Retention Alert
Form to the Retention Office when a student
is missing class or doing poor academic work.
Parent/Family Information
• A “Parents” link on the MSU homepage which
contains helpful information and critical
academic dates. The link includes a 1-800
number for parents to make personal contact
with the Office of Student Affairs. Also, a
FERPA release is available for students that
permits communication with family members
when a Retention Alert has been received.
Residential Colleges
• Murray State University is the only public
university in the United States to have a fully
implemented residential college system. Each
college has a Faculty Head who works closely
with students to help them succeed in college.
Tutoring, academic teams, educational
programs, and honor societies are integral
parts of each residential college.
Freshman & Sophomore Focus Groups
• Freshman Focus Groups: These groups meet
four times each semester provide freshmen
with the opportunity to discuss any concerns
or issues.
• Sophomore Focus Groups: These groups met
three times per semester to discuss lessons
learned, their transition from freshman year,
and make recommendations to improve the
freshman year experience.
Junior & Senior Contacts
• MSU’s Career Services contacts juniors and
seniors to assist them with career selection
and resume development.
Veterans Services
• MSU has dedicated staff and space to assist
returning veterans with adjustment,
persistence, and degree completion.
Summer Orientation
• The summer program introduces new
students to college life and academic
requirements.
Great Beginnings Program
• MSU welcomes its new freshmen and firsttime transfer students at the beginning of the
school year with its Great Beginnings Program.
The focus of the program is to assist students
with adjustment to college and provide
information to help students succeed.
Freshman Orientation Classes
• The “Transitions” class is a semester-long
course taken by all students. This class is a
general introduction on how to be successful
in college and also provides a focus on he
academic major(s) chosen by students.
Upper-class Mentors
• The First Year Leader (FYL) Program has upperclass mentors assigned to 12-15 new students.
The FYL works with and maintains contact
through the first six weeks and after mid-term
grades are posted. It is the hope of the
university---and encouraged during their
training---that each FYL will continue to be a
leader, mentor, and “go to” friend on a longterm basis.
Racer Advantage
• Racer Advantage is a needs-based scholarship
and a portion of these grant dollars are made
available for returning students.
Freshman Contact
• All Freshmen are contacted by the Student
Affairs Office at the end of the first six weeks
to assess their adjustment to college.
Special Emphasis Groups
• These are follow-up procedures to assist
specific populations who are at high risk for
failure or who have withdrawn from school
but are close to degree completion.
Second Eight-Week Classes
• A significant number of second eight-week
classes are scheduled for students who need
to drop a class due to poor grades. These
classes allow students to remain full-time and
prevent interruption of financial aid.
Academic Restoration Plan
• Academic advisors are asked to meet with
students on academic warning or probation to
develop an academic plan with specific
strategies to help them improve their grades
and return to having good academic standing.
Academic Review – Last Chance
• This program allows students who are on a
first suspension status to attend summer
school to improve their overall grade point
average and be able to return in the fall
semester.
Expansion of retention and graduation efforts as
recommended by the President’s Commission
on Retention to be implemented in 2012
• Establishment of the Center for Advising and Student
Success
• Employment of a full-time retention specialist
• Creation of a centrally-located advising kiosk
• Implementation of MapWorks, a system designed to
provide faculty with early alerts to assist students
Bursar’s Office
Communication Plan
• Semester postcard – Important Dates
• Series of email prior to semester due dates
• Phone Blast
• Contact during the semester to assist students
that miss one of their monthly payments
Bursar’s Office
• Scheduling hold policy has been changed to
allow students to schedule for future semester
with an outstanding balance
• Flexible online payment plans – based on
student’s needs
• Special assistance to student with financial
problems
Bursar’s Office
• Freshman Orientation Classes- a proposal has
been submitted to the Provost Office to include a
financial literacy section
• Education on myGate – Money Tab –
Powerpoint containing screen shot and
instruction
• Online test that will be graded by the staff of the
Bursar’s Office
Questions
Anita Poynor
apoynor@murraystate.edu
http://www.murraystate.edu/Admissions/BursarsOffice.aspx