The Habit of Retention

Agenda• Discuss the “R” word (and other dirty words)• Review research supported strategies• Operationalize the strategies

Retention

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Completion

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Persistence

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Habit

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So What?• It justifies our existence• Financially necessary• A societal expectation• You might just like it!

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Why Me?

Jone’s Community College Retention Model

Institutional Characteristics• Integrate career and academic advising• Improve student orientation• Reassess Early Alert impact• Provide a “My Learning Plan” tool for students• Positive interactions with support personnel• Reconsider teaching assignments• Class right-sizing and program structure

Academic Integration• Faculty course related interactions• Buddy-system in class• Faculty competency • Explicit expectations for involvement• Active learning strategies• Solicit course perceptions while class is in progress• Provide student decision making with respect to course• Relate coursework to student’s life purpose

Social Integration• Peer study groups• Awareness of social stigma and diversity issues• Social network identification• College social opportunities• Frontload assistance and support opportunities• Faculty/Student interactions

ReferencesAbu, S., Adera, B., Kamsani, S. R., & Ametepee, L. K. (2012). Addressing the increasing college student Attrition Rate by Creating Effectively Classroom Interaction. Review Of Higher Education & Self-Learning, 5(16), 16-25.Arnold, A. (1999). Retention and Persistence in Postsecondary Education. Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation. Bean, J. P. “Nine Themes of College Student Retention.” In A. Seidman (ed.), College Student Retention. Westport, Conn.: Praeger, 2005.Braxton, J. M. (2008). Toward a scholarship of practice centered on college student retention. New Directions For Teaching & Learning, 2008(115), 101-112. doi:10.1002/tl.328Consolo, K. (2009). Classroom Methods that Promote Student Retention and Learning. AURCO Journal, 1561-69.Cuseo. (n.d.) The Role of College Faculty in Promoting Student Retention Instructional Strategies for Reducing Student Attrition. Demaris Kritsonis. (2008). The Classroom: Exploring its Effects on Student Persistence and Satisfaction . Focus on Colleges, Universities and Schools 2 (1). Eagan, M. K., & Jaeger, A. J. (2008). Closing the gate: Part-Time faculty instruction in gatekeeper courses and first-year persistence. New Directions For Teaching & Learning, 2008(115), 39-53. Hagedorn (n.d.) How to define retention: A New Look at an Old Problem Transfer and Retention of Urban Community College Students ProjectHongwei, Y. (2015). Student retention at two-year community colleges: A structural equation modeling approach. International Journal Of Continuing Education & Lifelong Learning, 8(1), 85-101.Jones, R. (2008). Student Retention and success: A synthesis of research. Retrieved from http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/assets/EvidenceNet/Syntheses/wp_retention_ synthesis_for_pdf_updated_090310.pdf McArthur, R. C. (2005). Faculty -- Based Advising: An Important Factor in Community College Retention. Community College Review, 32(4), 1-19.Mertes, S. J., & Jankoviak, M. W. (2016). Creating a College-Wide Retention Program: A Mixed Methods Approach. Community College Enterprise, 22(1), 9-27.Pattengale (2010) What Faculty Members Need to Know About Retention. Magna.Umbach & Wawrzynski. ( 2004). Faculty do matter: the role of college faculty in student learning and engagement. Research in Higher Education 46 (2), 153-184.