Suaad Younis

Orientation should not be a front-loading event where students are overwhelmed with information and become burnt out or turned off in the first week. Events should be staggered so that students will have numerous opportunities to attend a variety of events. Planning a meet-and-greet once a week in the first 4 weeks of school will provide students with a chance to meet other students organically and they will not feel forced or overwhelmed. Another would be to have the student council plan events so that new and returning students can engage and interact in a variety of ways. Orientation should… >>>

Using surveys and self-checks are great tools to garner interest and spark curiosity. Students should feel that they can achieve their goals as they are applying and registering to start college.

Providing support throughout a student's journey is essential to keeping them performing well in their studies, social interactions, and overall well-being. 

Involving all stakeholders is important to build trust and repertoire with students. This will make them feel safe and that the college cares about them and their experience. 

Establishing credibility is important for post-secondary education because it allows students to know they will be in good hands and that the education they are investing will be worth it. 

College has become a business and if you do not offer the best services then you lose customers (students). It is unfortunate that post-secondary education had become to be this way.  

Offering a variety of resources and outlets for students to engage in and use is vital to student retention. Now more than ever, students need more to thrive and do well. 

Having a student-centric mindset will help the school do better in terms of retention and school culture. We are beyond the times where college meant that you had to be tough and face your own problems. It is now more imperative to get students into college and how to make them stay to complete their educational journey without feeling it is something that must be done. College should be an experience to look back on with pride and not negative memories. 

Stress is a significant factor to why we decide to leave school, change jobs, or break away from personal relationships. Post-secondary institutions need to factor this into their decision making and improvement of student wellness which will impact student retention. 

Student retention is the responsibility of all stakeholders. Post-secondary education needs to evolve to the changing needs of students. What worked in previous generations will not work for the students of the digital age.