bonding and connections are key to retention. 

Prepare items that will give confidence to the student that they are part of something larger than themselves. 

It is important to create communication channels that build trust and credibility 

retention and care are directly linked, as much as the feeling of belonging. 

This part makes me think that in this world filled with automated services, education should not be one, and helping student or guiding them for that matter seams to be the only way to have SOME success in retention. However, help to just follow a work protocol will not be effective at all. Care is felt and doing the job but just following protocols also is felt and it feels detached. 

Academic Erosion and Academic Stagnation felt on behalf of the students is collateral damage from the "Professional" Erosion and "Professional" Stagnation that the university staff feel themselves from their superiors or job responsibilities. 

Retention seams to be an issue that looks like an iceberg, and institutions are just addressing the visible tip and are ignoring the monster below.