The school where I work has tried many methods of increasing student retention. All methods were informally thrown out to instructors and other school personnel with the expectation that each person involved would act accordingly. Each individual appeared to work on their own, and no real improvements in retention were made. A few months back the school established a three step program of working with students to locate problems early. The three step program: (1) Student advising (consultation) by the instructor. (An informal meeting between the instructor and student and the instructor keep record of such meeting.) (2) Instructor /… >>>

I feel that my question may have been misunderstood. Our Retention Basic is about school retention. What I meant to ask was more along the lines of, when a college is trying to establish themselves, which would be more beneficial in the long run of the institution. Is it better to try and keep a larger quantity of students enrolled in the school by giving them a lesser quality of work (which appeals to the slackers), or would it be more benificial in the long run by maybe estabalishing a more challenged program which appeals to the more committed student.… >>>