Retention 2010
Click on the following links to see sessions on those particular days, or scroll down.
PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS
Wednesday, June 9 — 9:00am - 12:00pm
An Introduction to Student Retention, Watson Scott Swail, President, Educational Policy Institute
This workshop will introduce participants to important concepts related to improving student retention on college and university campuses. The session will outline a retention framework and discuss issues related to defining retention on campus, data usage, student tracking systems, institutional planning, campus buy in, and proven practices. Participants will receive a binder of information to take back to their campus and have the opportunity to network with others from around Canada and the US. This workshop is aimed at postsecondary practitioners and administrators.
Wednesday, June 9 — 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Building A Roadmap for Meeting Institutional Retention Goals, Jay Goff, Dean, Enrollment Management, Missouri University of Science & Technology; Harvest Collier, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Programs, Missouri University of Science and Technology
Does your institution have a plan and a roadmap to meet retention goals? This session provides an opportunity for institutional leaders to discuss how coordination between offices in data collection can be useful in analyzing institution-specific retention issues. The featured model can help your institution benchmark and identify key changes needed to improve student retention. Attendees will learn how policy changes and intervention strategies increased graduation rates by 12% and guided plans for additional retention success in the future.
CONCURRENT SESSIONS (Sessions and dates of sessions may change)
THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2010
8:00am - Continental Breakfast
9:00am - Opening Keynote (Greg Darnieder, U.S. Department of Education)
10:00am - First Concurrent Session
11:00am - Coffee Break
11:15am - Second Concurrent Session
12:15pm - Lunch Keynote (Dr. Reginald A. Wilkinson, President and CEO of Ohio College Access Network)
1:45pm - Third Concurrent Session
2:45pm - Coffee Break
3:00pm - Fourth Concurrent Session
4:00pm - End of Daily Sessions
5:00pm - Evening on Your Own
Thursday 10:00am - 11:00am
Improving college readiness for underserved and underrepresented populations
Thursday, June 10, 10:00am - 11:00am
Nilka Avilés, Senior Education Associate, Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA)
Research shows there is an achievement gap between various student groups who enroll in and complete a degree in higher education (Clinton, 2000; Phillips, 2003; Roach, 2001; Paredes, 2005). College readiness initiatives call for structural, administrative, instructional and curriculum modifications and changes to reduce the achievement gap among these groups. Major focus is on the improvement of curricular and instructional practices addressing equity for all students and the transformation of the school culture.
Working Together: Building a Bridge b/w Community Colleges and 4-Year Institutions
Thursday, June 10, 10:00am - 11:00am
Caridi Jamie, Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Retention, Ohio Dominican University
This session will provide research regarding the 4-year graduation rates of community college students and the impact of community college transfer on retention, persistence and success. Additionally, this session will highlight a unique residential articulation agreement between a two-year community college and 4-year private college designed to enhance the success rates of community college students who aspire to a four year degree. Specifically, it will focus on the unique challenges and inhibitors to transfer student success including financial ability, academic advising, socialization, and rigor of curriculum.
The Power of Two: Researching the Effects of Peer Mentoring on Student Retention and Engagement
Thursday, June 10, 10:00am - 11:00am
Margie Bader, Program Coordinator, Seneca College; Sheryl Minnett, Faculty, Seneca College
Is peer mentoring an effective retention strategy? The SMILE (Student Mentoring in Life & Education) Program from Seneca College partnered with an external research company to determine the efficacy of mentoring at this multicampus college. The presentation will cover the design and implementation of the study, which took place during the 2008-2009 academic year, involving 600 first year students. Research data will be shared and an overview of this highly developed mentoring program will also be provided.
Crossing the Threshold: Partnering College Access CBO’s and Higher Education Institutions for Student Success
Thursday, June 10, 10:00am - 11:00am
Laurie Bainter, Director of Student Persistence, College Bound - St. Louis; Vicki Boyd-Kennedy, TRiO Academic Advisor – MU Learning Center, Academic Exploration, and Advising Services, University of Missouri - Columbia
This presentation will explore the evolving and critical role college access organizations play in college completion for first generation, low-income students as we identify and describe a successful college-CBO collaboration between College Bound-St. Louis and the University of Missouri-Columbia. Participants will be provided insight into the value of a college-CBO persistence partnership as well as a detailed model and outcome-driven success strategies for establishing and maintaining a productive collaboration that supports student success in college.
Thursday 11:15am - 12:15pm
Retention: The Dilemmas of the non-traditional student
Thursday, June 10, 11:15am - 12:15pm
Gary Batson, Professor, Language and Literature, Touro College
During the fall semester I had a student in my Essentials of effective reading and writing class who was about 45 years old. He seemed all prepared to return to school; his wit was sharp, his analytical skills impressive, his writing, competent. Above all he was eager and motivated, a professor’s dream. He had done some jail time, but paid his debt to society and was eager to return to the ranks. However, he had one flaw, he was unemployed with dependents. He eventually dropped- out three quarters of the way through the semester after he had found a job. I called his home numerous times to offer him alternatives to, at the very least, complete the semester so that he would get the credits and not anger his grantors with a WF. An “F” is better than a WF because to his grantors it would appear that he at least tried, but failed. A WF means that he quit. He did not return my call until it was too late.
Online Tools to Help You With Your Retention Program
Thursday, June 10, 11:15am - 12:15pm
Watson Scott Swail, President & CEO, Educational Policy Institute
EPI's Dr. Watson Scott Swail will showcase several online tools created by EPI to help institutions of all types in the effort to increase student access and success. Tools include EPI's Retention Calculator, the Effective Practices in Student Success (EPSS), the Institutional Student Retention Assessment (ISRA), and the EPI-DAS Student Database System.
Our Customer May Not Always Be Correct: ACADEMIC Customer Service – The Human Element in Retention
Thursday, June 10, 11:15am - 12:15pm
Neal Raisman, President, AcademicMAPS
Academic (not retail) customer service is central to increasing retention and graduation since it goes directly to the human aspect of interactions with students as well as being to core to the three major Returns on Investments students demand. Academic customer service is at the core of forming the engagement students seek and need to stay with their institutions. In fact in annual studies since 2005, 84% of students surveyed a year after dropping indicated that aspects of academic customer service were why they left. An understanding of what academic customer service is, how it can be integrated at your institution and some simple techniques to use will be presented as well as a couple of laughs.
Retention of our Most Vulnerable Youth
Thursday, June 10, 11:15am - 12:15pm
Ginny Donohue, Founder & Executive Director, On Point for College, Inc.; Sam Rowser, Program Director, On Point for College, Inc.
On Point for College staff will discuss major challenges (financial, academic, personal) faced by our most vulnerable students (e.g. immigrants, homeless, foster care youth, young adults coming out of incarceration). They will share program strategies utilized to help these students surmount these challenges from safe summer housing to campus visits by staff. Presenters will also share survey results from re-enrolled college stopouts. Participants are encouraged to address challenges, discuss systemic issues, and share recommendations at the institutional, state and federal level.
Thursday 1:45pm - 2:45pm
The Road to Retention Recovery: Freshmen Perspectives on the First Semester
Thursday, June 10, 1:45pm - 2:45pm
Theresa Ennis, Assistant Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies & University Assessment Coordinator, Tennessee Technological University; Brittni Simmons, Special Assistant to the President, Tennessee Technological Unviersity
A collection of information on the engagement and success of freshmen students was conducted to analyze current university programs concerning freshmen retention. A survey was administered, including qualitative and quantitative data, in UNIV 1020 or equivalent courses. A total of 522 freshmen students completed the survey near end of fall 2009 semester. Data collected focused on freshmen experience, freshmen advising, awareness and use of campus resources available for freshmen, and suggestions for improvement.
The Price of Persistence: Understanding and Overcoming Barriers to Postsecondary Success for Low-Income and First-Generation Students
Thursday, June 10, 1:45pm - 2:45pm
Lisa Fielder, Executive Director, College Forward
Funded by a TG research grant, the Austin, Texas nonprofit College Forward engaged researchers Catherine Horn, Ph.D. and Miguel Ramos, Ph.D. to assess existing interventions for first generation, economically disadvantaged college students. The study identifies missing or ineffective support structures and proposes new strategies for universities and other organizations working to improve college access and persistence for traditionally underrepresented students. The discussion will include preliminary results of interventions initiated since publication of the study.
A Fast Track to Improving Retention and Student Assessment Data: Using Traditional Recruitment Systems to Increase Student Re-Enrollment Rates
Thursday, June 10, 1:45pm - 2:45pm
Goff Jay, Dean, Enrollment Management, Missouri University of Science & Technology
In our multi-media society, recent communication studies demonstrate that telephone interaction is by far the most used and preferred medium by today's students. This session reviews ways of adapting existing recruitment and data collection strategies (Telecounseling, Student Profile Data, Surveys, etc) to improve multiple student services and re-enrollment rates. Campuses using these applications have seen immediate increases in student re-enrollment rates and a decrease in the number of students dropped for non-payment issues. Participants will receive sample script and survey questions, operational calendars, and methods for implementing these productive student service methods.
Using the Web 2.0 as a Strategy for Student Retention
Thursday, June 10, 1:45pm - 2:45pm
Jorge Figueroa, Assistant Professor of English/TESOL, Universidad del Este-Santa Isabel
This presentation will show a project at Universidad del Este-Santa Isabel which started in 2007 and involved the use of the Web 2.0 as a strategy for student retention. The presentation will demonstrate the strategies use for student retention, the annual growth, and a new project for 2010
Thursday 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Emotional Intelligence Coaching
Thursday, June 10, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Steve Fishman, Program Leader, Seneca College; Lisa Decandia, Program Coordinator, Seneca College
Emotional Intelligence is a learned ability to understand, use and express human emotions in healthy and productive ways. Emotional and social competencies such as adaptability, stress management, and interpersonal skills are important factors in the successful transition to and completion of college. The positive emotional growth of students is a core value of student development and key to academic achievement and student retention. EI involves developing abilities to effectively manage the demands and pressures of college and everyday life. This workshop provides an overview of Emotional Intelligence as it relates to college success and student retention. Using a ‘coaching’ approach, participants will explore techniques that encourage students to develop and enhance EI skills that lead to academic and personal success. Participants who attend this session will: • Gain a basic understanding of emotional intelligence and the value of utilizing a coaching approach • Identify specific EI competencies related to student success • Learn and explore approaches and techniques that encourage students to cultivate emotional intelligence competencies
University of New Haven Professional Coaching Collaboration
Thursday, June 10, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Kathy Forkin, Director of Career Services, University of New Haven
Presentation will discuss UNH collaboration with International Coach Federation and success with students that resulted in improved retention rates. Collaboration began as pilot in 2006 with 18 students/ 7 coaches, and increased to 48 students/21 coaches. Attendees will be provided formula for establishing guidelines on Coaching Program including student Code of Conduct, and model for recognition program. Professional coaches work with students, concentrating on the students today and where they want to be tomorrow.
AVID: Rigor, Retention, and College Readiness
Thursday, June 10, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Rob Gira, Executive Vice President, AVID Center
This presentation will show how efforts to promote academic equity, including participation in the most rigorous curriculum, are more likely to succeed if schools provide a system of support. We will discuss research findings and demonstrate how the AVID system has been incorporated schoolwide and districtwide to create a systemic approach to closing the achievement gap.
Academic Advising: Critical Link in Student Success
Thursday, June 10, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Wes Habley, Principal Associate, ACT, Inc.
This session focuses on critical conceptual components and organizational imperatives for a successful advising program. Concepts include advising mission, definition of advising, the relationship between advising and teaching, the relationship between advising and career/life planning, and the relationship between advising and student persistence. Organizational elements include the centrality of advising, campus collaboration and cooperation, active outreach to students, and effective training, assessment, and recognition.
FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 2010
8:00am - Continental Breakfast
9:00am - Opening Research Panel (Pranav Kothari (Mission Measurement), Chris Mazzeo (U. Chicago), Wes Habley (ACT))
10:00am - Fifth Concurrent Session
11:00am - Coffee Break
11:15am - Sixth Concurrent Session
12:15pm - Lunch Keynote (Cheryl Hyman, City Colleges of Chicago Chancellor)
1:45pm - Seventh Concurrent Session
2:45pm - Coffee Break
3:00pm - Eighth Concurrent Session
4:00pm - Adjournment
Friday 10:00am - 11:00am
Actionable Retention Strategies
Friday, June 11, 10:00am - 11:00am
James Stoffer, Retention Sales Manager, Hobsons EMT
Most US schools have a retention plan. They collect data, and they have a team or committee focused on retention. So why haven’t graduation rates improved? What are the successful schools doing to make their efforts more effective? Is there something that other programs are doing that puts them a step ahead? We will look into strategies and instruments being used by programs that have moved beyond plans, data, and meetings. Come see how Hobsons EMT has helped both public and private institutions increase their retention rates by more than 5% in a short time with higher education’s most trusted retention solution.
What Works in Student Retention: Overview
Friday, June 11, 10:00am - 11:00am
Wes Habley, Principal Associate, ACT, Inc.
This will report on the results of data collected for ACT’s fourth national “What Works in Student Retention” survey and provide information on best practices for retention. This session focuses on responses from more than 1,100 colleges and universities and will review national retention and degree completion rates, major causes of attrition, and interventions most likely to improve student success. This session is a must for those involved in institutional retention efforts.
A Community-Based Organization’s Approach to College Success
Friday, June 11, 10:00am - 11:00am
Greg Johnson, Executive Director, Bottom Line, Inc.
Greg Johnson, Executive Director of Boston-based non-profit Bottom Line will present how community-based organizations can help improve student retention and graduation rates, specifically among low-income and first-generation populations. Greg will discuss how Bottom Line’s unique D.E.A.L. model for college retention increases student success rates, and helps colleges use their own resources more efficiently.
Got Career Planning?
Friday, June 11, 10:00am - 11:00am
Linda Shiller, Director, Career and Educaton Outreach, Vermont Student Assistant Corporation
Studies show that many students drop out of college because they don’t feel engaged in their academic coursework as a freshman or sophomore. Students need to feel engaged, set personal goals and expectations and create academic plans to meet these goals. Effective career planning strategies can provide students with the tools to help them with their personal/social development, lifelong skills, decision making, goal setting and planning beyond high school and college. This workshop will provide a framework and strategies for developing and facilitating a collaborative career planning “system “ to meet the needs of your students. Learn how effective career planning strategies used in pre-college settings as well as on the campus can boost persistence and college completion.
Friday 11:15am - 12:15pm
Taking Ownership of your College Outcome: Getting to Know You
Friday, June 11, 11:15am - 12:15pm
Deborah Lindemer, M.A. - Educational Psychology, Union Institute and University
This presentation will speak to the position that personality is a valid predictor of college outcome and the creation of a high school humanistic prep course in order to better prepare students for success in college. The course was created as part of my Thesis for a Master of Arts Degree with a concentration in Educational Psychology and a focus on college student retention. The presentation will include a discussion around the position that non-academic factors, such as personality, are as, if not more, important than test scores regarding college outcome. It will also include a discussion of the course content, such as personality and career planning inventories, presentations by college personnel and students, and discussion about all aspects of what to expect in college, including but not limited to, level of involvement, how to get involved, bonding with another student, faculty, staff or the university itself, the importance of seeking help—how, where, when, roommates, study skills, available resources and how to take advantage of those resources and those things that go along with living away from home for the first time. In short, the presentation will cover the idea of helping students to have a better understanding of themselves—what about them will help them succeed in college and what about them may serve to sabotage their success in college—before they arrive on campus.
Strategies to Engage and Improve the Retention of Underrepresented Students
Friday, June 11, 11:15am - 12:15pm
Terry Lindsay, Associate Professor and Dean of Diversity and Intercultural Programs, North Park University; Velda Love, Director of Justice and Intercultural Learning, North Park Unniversity; Joseph Jones, Provost, North Park University; Richard Johnson, Director of University Ministries, North Park University
This workshop will present North Park University’s engagement and retention plan designed to help students facing academic difficulties improve their overall academic success and persistence. The workshop will benefit the following --student affairs / services practitioners, multicultural and diversity staff, faculty, administrators, and retention specialists. Participants will learn strategies to help students achieve success.
Outside the Box Retention Strategies
Friday, June 11, 11:15am - 12:15pm
Bob Bontrager, Director, AACRAO Consulting,
Research indicates that many common retention strategies lack evidence of actually improving retention rates. In this context, relying on conventional wisdom may not be an effective approach to crafting retention programs. This session looks at initiatives not commonly referenced in retention discussions, but with proven track records of improving student access and degree completion.
Strategic Diversity Planning to Effect Institutional Change
Friday, June 11, 11:15am - 12:15pm
Brittany McCullough, Diversity Analyst, Planning and Assessment, Auburn University; Overtoun Jenda, Associate Provost for Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, Auburn University
This session discusses the strategic planning process for achieving diversity as a core value at Auburn University through the inception of Auburn’s Strategic Diversity Plan, the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs (ODMA) Strategic Planning Goals, and College/School Strategic Diversity Plans. The session will discuss the development, dissemination, and assessment of the university’s plan, the plan for ODMA, and details the most recent strategic planning efforts of Auburn University’s thirteen colleges/schools. This session should benefit participants who are interested in strategic planning as well as participants interested in tactics and strategies that promote diversity as a core value for institutions of higher education.
Embracing Faculty Involvement to Increase Student Retention
Friday, June 11, 11:15am - 12:15pm
Collier Harvest, Vice Provost of Undergraduate Programs and Professor of Chemistry, Missouri University of Science and Technology
Most student retention research indicates that active faculty involvement is a key to improving student learning
and engagement levels. The need to balance strong academic rigor and appropriate student support is not an easy
task. This session is designed to address retention planning from the faculty perspective. Attendees will discuss the
role faculty members can play in improving retention across the campus. Sample programming models stressing
awareness, shared understandings of expectations and engagement will be shared.
Friday 1:45pm - 2:45pm
In school but not at school: A response to disengagement
Friday, June 11, 1:45pm - 2:45pm
Stuart Middleton, Director External Relations, Manukau Institute of Technology
Manukau Institute of Technology (NZ) has opened NZ's first Tertiary High School. Grade 9 students identified as potential disengagers undertake a four year programme to complete their secondary schooling and a two-year trade qualification. Legislation has been amended to allow for dual enrolment, flexible funding and legitimises the role of a tertiary institution in working with students below the legal school leaving age. The presentation details this development - a response to the historical causes of disengagement.
"Want Fries with That?": Making Retention Meaningful
Friday, June 11, 1:45pm - 2:45pm
Anne Neal, President, American Council of Trustees and Alumni; Kay Pesile, Trustee,, City University of New York; David Wasinger, Trustee, Universitiy of Missouri; James Brennan, Provost, Catholic University
"Want Fries With That?" bridges the gap between two higher education problems that are often treated in isolation from one another: student retention and student learning outcomes. Exploring how several institutions use strong core curricula to improve student retention, this panel will pay particular attention to how trustees can ensure not only that students graduate, but also that they do so with the knowledge and skills they need for life after college.
Stories of Success: Women and Retention in Online Education
Friday, June 11, 1:45pm - 2:45pm
Thayer Reed, Research Scientist, Office of Institutional Effectiveness, Kaplan University; Sara Connolly, Professor of Higher Education Studies, Kaplan University
This presentation reports on a study examining the retention patterns of women enrolled in undergraduate programs at a major online university. The study focuses on students who previously attended a post-secondary institution without earning a degree but subsequently enrolled in an online program to continue their education. The researchers examine patterns of success for these students and discuss how their findings may inform retention practices.
A Large-Scale, Comprehensive Institutional Retention Initiative: How Did We Get There, Is It Working, and Will It Produce Deep and Lasting Change?
Friday, June 11, 1:45pm - 2:45pm
Paul Thayer, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs/Special Advisor to the Provost for Retention, Colorado State University
Colorado State University has undertaken a comprehensive, multi-year effort to increase retention and student success that is distinctive because of its scope and its aspirations for changing campus structures and culture. The workshop is designed to share the process through which such a comprehensive plan came to be adopted, the conceptual basis of the plan, the extent of academic and student affairs collaboration, its promise to affect campus culture, and initial results.
Friday 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Co-curricular Impact on Student Retention: A Systemic Model of Institutional Action
Friday, June 11, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Lisa Rhine, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, Northern Kentucky University; Zebulun Davenport, Vice President for Student Affairs, Northern Kentucky University
Northern Kentucky University has created a comprehensive model of institutional action aimed at improving student success and retention. The research-based model integrates retention efforts and co-curricular assessment to improve student learning. The systemic approach leverages predictive analytics, incorporates institutional mapping of best practice, realigns student support processes, maps individualized pathways based on student needs, integrates EMAS Retention Pro as a critical communication component and is grounded in a solid assessment approach.
Family-Centered College Recruitment and Retention Methods for Latino Students
Friday, June 11, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Ruben Rodriguez, National Director – University Programs, Hispanic Scholarship Fund
In 2005, the Lilly Endowment Inc. awarded a five-year grant to the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) to develop a collaborative model between HSF, high schools and universities to achieve the joint goal of recruiting and retaining Latino students from areas with traditionally low enrollment rates to flagship universities in Georgia and Texas. This session will share needs assessment results for first-generation Latino students and their families and HSF’s best practices from 4 years of tailored programming around these needs assessment findings.
The Impact of a Multidimensional Widening Participation Initiative on Student Performance in Ireland
Friday, June 11, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Fiona Sweeney, New ERA Co-ordinator, University College Dublin, Ireland; Orla Doyle, Senior Researcher, University College Dublin, Dublin
New ERA is a widening participation initiative which supports the participation and retention of disadvantaged students in University College Dublin, Ireland. In 2009, the UCD Geary Institute conducted a quantitative evaluation of the program using a quasi-experimental design. It found that the program has positive effects on progression to university, first year retention rates, exam performance and graduation rates. This session will explore the outcomes of the study and the practical implications for New ERA.
How a focus on a liberal education can boost student retention
CUA / Engaged Minds Presentation
Friday, June 11, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Catholic University is the national university of the Catholic Church in the United States. The institution educates about 3500 undergraduates in 12 schools. In 2009 the institution implemented a comprehensive First Year Experience program with the dual goal to increase student retention and graduation rates and to more strongly emphasize the common elements of a liberal education that permeates all of its academic programs. Cornerstones of the FYE program were the introduction of common core classes and of learning communities as well as a much broader and proactive approach to advising for freshman students. CUA implemented feedback and advising processes that provided every student staring in the first week of classes in September with personalized feedback and advise on how to succeed at the institution. The university implemented a collaboration platform on which 300 faculty and staff provide regular and systematic feedback on the progress of every student and that initiated proactive support interventions for students in need of help.