February 7, 2007
Webinar Notes
• You need to phone in to the conference call number to receive audio
for this program. If you experience problems, please email
info@educationalpolicy.org and we’ll try and help.
• Ask questions using the chat function on the right side of your
screen. We will try and answer questions in order. In the chance we
do not get to your question, we will provide answers online after the
webinar.
• The webinar will be available online for download after completion of
the event.
• The powerpoint file is currently online under our events page.
Effective Practices Database
• http://studentretention.org/epss.html
EPI Retention Listserv
http://www.educationalpolicy.org/retentionlistserv.html
Our Objectives
• Are objectives during this webinar are to provide participants
with:
 A more comprehensive understanding of theoretical and practical reasons for student departure
and success;
 An understanding of the barriers to student success;
 A framework for developing a comprehensive plan for improving student success at your
institution;
 Data on student success and persistence at the two- and four-year levels in Canada and the
U.S.;
 Strategies and best practices for improving student success on campus;
 An opportunity to create diverse networks of professionals like yourself who are committed to
serving students at a high level;
 Motivation to improve services to all students;
 Learn more about our non-profit organization
About the Presenter
Watson Scott Swail, Ed.D.
• Earned doctorate in educational policy from
The George Washington University in
Washington, DC.
• Received his Masters in Science degree from
Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA.
• Received his BA in Education from University
of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB.
• Served as a middle school teacher for seven
years in Canada and the US
• Worked as policy analyst for The College
Board and Senior Research Scientist at SRI
International
• Dissertation focused on the retention of
minority students in STEM fields.
Who do we serve?
Number of Institutions Attended
Initial Degree Goal
Attendance Intensity and Continuity
Delayed Enrollment
Degree Goal vs. Degree Attainment
Degree Attainment and Persistence
Why is Retention an Important Issue?
– Retention stable at 50 percent
– Issues of cost and quality
– Federal and state intervention
Dropout and Defaults
Borrowers Who Completed BA
Borrowers who Dropped Out
2
In Default on
Loans
22
7
Unemployed
15
0
5
10
15
20
25
When does student
dropout/departure occur?
After first year
After second year
$70,000 or greater
11
$45,000–69,999
9
12
6
16
Less than $25,000
15
5
8
16
12
5
15
Black, non-Hispanic
17
16
All four-year students
14
0
12
10
5
6
17
14
4
7
Hispanic
White, non-Hispanic
7
14
7
After fourth year
2
12
$25,000–44,999
Asian/Pacific Islander
After third year
9
6
10
6
7
4
13
6
20
30
5
40
50
60
The Ongoing
Retention Challenge
• One quarter of all students who enter postsecondary education for
the first time end up at another institution before attaining a
postsecondary degree.
• Almost half (46 percent) of first-time students who left their initial
institution by the end of the first year never came back to
postsecondary education.
• Students who attend full-time or whose attendance was
continuous were much more likely to achieve their degree goals
than other students. However, only about two-thirds of students
were continuously enrolled.
The Ongoing
Retention Challenge
• 50 percent of four-year students who did not delay entry into
PSE earned their degree at their first institution, compared to
only 27 percent of students who were delayed entrants.
• 42 percent of students whose first-year grade point average was
2.25 or less left postsecondary education permanently.
Why do Students Leave?
–
–
–
–
–
Academic Preparedness
Campus Climate
Commitment to Educational Goals and the Institution
Social and Academic Integration
Financial Aid
Why should institutions care?
–
–
–
–
Loss of revenue to the institution
Poor business model
Lower prestige and moral
It’s the right thing to do; it’s in the mission
Seven Questions
for Student Retention
1. Do you understand the nature of the problem?
2. Do you know why your students leave?
3. Do you know what your institution is already doing to ameliorate
these issues?
4. Do you know how effective these programs or strategies are?
5. Do you know what programs and strategies may be worth
considering?
6. Do you have evidence that there exists significant support on
campus to do something about this issue?
7. Do you understand the institutional change process?
The
Student
Experience
Institutional Factors
The
Student
Experience
Financial Aid
Recruitment & Admissions
Academic Services
Student Services
Curriculum & Instruction
The
Student
Experience
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
The
Student
Experience
Institutional Factors
What is Your Triangle?
The
Student
Experience
Institutional Factors
Five Components of the Student
Retention Framework
Top Ten Considerations
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Rely on proven research.
Suit the particular needs of the campus.
Institutionalize and become a regular part of campus service.
Involve all campus departments and all campus personnel.
Take into consideration the dynamics of the change process and
provide extensive and appropriate retraining of staff.
6. Focus on students.
7. Ensure that the program is fiscally responsible.
8. Support institutional research in the monitoring of programs and
students.
9. Be patient.
10. Be sensitive to students’ needs and target the most needy student
populations.