Hi Richard, I really like the way you laid out the different aspects of student retention. You are right in terms of some we will lose and some will stay no matter what happens. When I got the chance to be the first in my family to go to college the thought of dropping out never entered my mind because I wanted to make my family proud of me. I had some great classes and some horrible professors yet it didn't matter in terms of my staying in school. It did matter greatly in terms of my learning though. Simple fact and as you say not new to anyone, good instructors enhance learning. I tried to take as many courses as I could from those kinds of instructors. As an instructor myself even after being out of school many years I want to be like those effective instructors were and make a difference in the lives of my students. Teaching is common sense and we need to remember that as we help out student to create a future for themselves. Gary