Standard 8: Student Admissions and Retention
Questions
Committee Questions
1. Is the institution admitting students (including transfer, graduate, part-time, adult, nondegree) who have a reasonable opportunity for success in meeting their educational goals
(academic, financial, social, e.g.).
2. Are admissions goals sufficiently clear and realistic? Are they consistent with the
institution’s mission and with the long term strategic and financial plans? Does the strategic
plan provide for improvement of admissions services? [Compliance]
3. What do demographic trends suggest will be the future of the institution’s student base? How
is the institution positioning itself to handle any anticipated demographic changes? What else
should it consider doing? [Improvement]
4. Has the institution analyzed its recruiting materials and processes so that they are coordinated
and geared towards its goals? Do we accurately portray ourselves to prospective students?
Do these materials also include learning outcomes and assessment data? Has it interviewed
accepted students who do not attend? Transfer students? Does data analysis disclose trends?
(Is the external Self-Study: Creating a Useful Process and Report environment changing?we don’t know what this is) [Relevant Institutional Issues]
5. Is the institution successful in providing financial assistance to students in relation to the
demographic of students we are trying to attract? How would such success be measured?
How is this success assessed in terms of how student learning outcomes are correlated to the
financial need of the student? What is our goal in terms of merit vs. need and what is our
yield from these groups? What percentage of need are we meeting? What indebtedness are
we asking students and their families to take on? [Compliance/Assessment]
6. Do comparisons of the institution’s retention and graduation rates to similar schools, aspirant
institutions, and national averages indicate that the institution is performing effectively?
[Assessment]
7. How are lessons learned from retention studies used to improve academic and student
support programs? [Assessment]
8. Is there a periodic review of admissions policies and by whom? Are changes in the process
needed? [Assessment]
9. Are enrollment projections sufficiently realistic to support the institution’s financial
projections? [Relationship to Other Standards]
10. What is the structure for leadership and organization of efforts in this area?
11. What is the evidence that Goucher is meeting this standard?
12. What are the college’s strengths for this standard?
13. What are the college’s challenges for this standard?
14. What is your analysis of the relevant strengths and challenges, with appropriate reference to
the standards and fundamental elements?
15. What are the recommendations for improvement?
Middle States Sample Questions
1. Are retention goals consistent with long term strategic and financial plans? Does the strategic
plan provide for improvement of admissions services? [Compliance]
2. If the institution is not meeting its admissions goals, are the goals sufficiently clear, realistic,
and consistent with the institution’s mission? Has the institution analyzed its recruiting
materials and processes so that they are coordinated and geared towards its goals? Has it
interviewed accepted students who do not attend? Transfer students? Does data analysis
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Standard 8: Student Admissions and Retention
Questions
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
disclose trends? Is the external Self-Study: Creating a Useful Process and Report
environment changing? [Relevant Institutional Issues]
Is the institution successful in providing financial assistance to students? How would such
success be measured? How is this success assessed in terms of how student learning
outcomes are correlated to the financial need of the student? [Compliance/Assessment]
Do comparisons of the institution’s retention and graduation rates to similar schools, aspirant
institutions, and national averages indicate that the institution is performing effectively? If
not, what should be done? [Assessment]
How are lessons learned from retention studies used to improve academic and student
support programs? [Assessment]
What are the criteria for assessing whether periodic review of admissions policies is
effective? Are changes in the process needed? [Assessment]
What do demographic trends suggest will be the future of the institution’s student base? How
is the institution positioning itself to handle any anticipated demographic changes? What else
should it consider doing? [Improvement]
Are enrollment projections sufficiently realistic to support the institution’s financial
projections? [Relationship to Other Standards]
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