Retention Basics | Origin: RT101
This is a general discussion forum for the following learning topic:
Improving Retention through Timely Intervention --> Retention Basics
Post what you've learned about this topic and how you intend to apply it. Feel free to post questions and comments too.
I especially relate to the idea of understanding necessary and unnecessary caused of attrition. Some things are unavoidable (health, family emergency) - but creating a culture where students 'work with staff on day to day issues before they become insurmountable' and preventing unnecessary attrition. Understanding culture creation is powerful.
If everyone sees retention as part of their responsibility, fewer students will fall between the cracks
One thing I learned from this module is that retention is not the responsibility of just one person or department. Everyone plays a role in student success. I also liked the idea that retention should not just be looked at as a number, but as the result of doing the right things for students at the right time.
As a Program Director, I can apply this by paying closer attention to changes in attendance, grades, participation, and communication. These can be early signs that a student is struggling. Instead of waiting until a student has missed several days or is ready to withdraw, I can work with instructors and other departments to reach out earlier, identify what is going on, and connect the student with the appropriate resources. I also think it is important that we maintain our academic standards while still making sure students know that we are here to support them and want to see them succeed.
Retention is an ongoing process and everyone's responsibility.
I learned the most common reasons students opt to leave a program they’ve started and how the loss of retention affects the various levels of the organization (management, faculty, admissions, etc). I hadn’t realized the many events our campus hosts for promoting student engagement also support strengthening student’s bonds to our program and can serve to decrease the amount of attrition.
I learned that keeping the students engaged while learning can help to keep retention low. Being able to recognize if the students are disengaged before it becomes to late can help to increase retention. It is important to remember that maintaining retention is a collective effort amongst the entire staff from start to finish in retaining the students. This information gave me great tools to use and think about while teaching my students and keeping them looking forward to a rewarding career in the end.
Retention is responsibility of everyone.
I learned that improving retention starts with setting realistic student expectations and identifying early signs of disengagement, such as loneliness, lack of program fit, or academic boredom. I plan to apply this by checking in with students early, listening to their concerns, and connecting them with timely academic and support resources before small challenges become reasons to leave.
Retention is a group effort, it takes all of us faculty to report and keep an eye on students and how we are engaging with them.
Retention is a campus wide effort; we all play a role in keeping our students. The student's journey is not linear, they are bound to have ups and downs. We need to be proactive in recognizing red flags.
Retention is a group effort. Making sure that we are catching those troubled students before it is too late.
Retention is the responsibility of everyone. Engaging with students and creating a supportive environment in all departments the student may engage with allows the student to become comfortable sharing the day-to-day problems they experience before they become crises that lead to withdrawal.
Connecting with students and creating a culture that gives them a sense of belonging and safety is crucial for retention.
Student retention is vital to institutions. It is not easy and it is a part of everyone on staff. It also seems to be ever evolving in that no two student withdrawal reasons are ever the same. Outreach and communication are again key to facilitating good retention withing students. Therefore, everyone on staff should be constantly thinking about the student who seems to be uninvolved, uninterested or ill-informed and how do we reach and stay connected to the success of that student.
A warm, inviting , energy helps retention.
One of the biggest lessons I learned from this module is that student retention starts with engagement, communication, and support.
What stood out to me in the module is that retention is the responsibility of everyone and having the right people in the right place at the right time.
I learned that retention is everyone's responsibility, not just faculty. I will apply this by making sure our IT systems stay reliable so students don't have technical issues and stay enrolled.
