Be aware and show compassion for students having stress issues and try to help.

Retention is a responsibility for all faculty in the institution.

I learned that student attrition is often caused by a mix of academic, personal, and engagement factors. Recognizing early warning signs like poor attendance and low participation is key to preventing drop-offs.

I plan to apply this by staying proactive with student outreach, addressing concerns early, and working closely with instructors to provide timely support and keep students on track.

I learned that student retention requires proactive engagement, consistent communication, and early identification of at-risk students. Building strong relationships and using data like attendance and performance are key to supporting student success.

I plan to apply this by staying proactive in my outreach, closely monitoring attendance, and following up quickly with students who show signs of disengagement. I’ll also continue working closely with instructors to address concerns early and create a supportive environment for students.

Organizational culture is important because it shapes how people behave, interact, and perform within a workplace. Positive cultures increase job satisfaction, reduce burnout, and lower turnover. A healthy culture promotes respect and quickly addresses unprofessional behavior.

For admissions and faculty to truly align, they need to function less like separate departments and more like a continuous pipeline supporting the same student journey—from inquiry to graduation. 

For example in nursing, faculty can help define competencies needed for success (study skills, critical thinking, professionalism). Faculty can also share syllabi highlights, workload expectations, and common challenges.

ways to improve retention:

Engage students actively
Reinforce learning through repetition and retrieval
Use multimodal teaching and reflection
Apply knowledge to real-world contexts
Monitor understanding with frequent feedback

1st week sets the tone. It helps the student decide whether they will return for week 2. Late enrollees should receive the same info that others received during orientation. 

Having the faculty present during orientation is a must. Allow the students to get to know the faculty. This interaction is beneficial for both parties. 

Orientation should not be just informative; it must be fun.  Have students meet other new and current students. Relieve some of the anxiety.