I appreciated the reframing of retention as not something we should consider as a "goal" but as a by-product of doing things the right way. Also, the complexity of actions (and the diversity of actors) that lead to attrition is concisely presented in this module.
I have sometimes felt in my institution that the blame for failing at retention is constantly shifted from one department to another, and I have personally felt guilty for not recognizing that a student needed help. To learn that "students are notorious for not sharing problems at a point when they can be solved” was both comforting and alarming.
I will integrate what I'm learning here into our school's plan for an alumni mentorship program starting this Fall. We also have a faculty training seminar coming up in the Summer. The role of the faculty in student retention will be a topic of discussion.
