Nationwide, institutions craft initiatives to increase retention rates. Retention coordinators are appointed, intervention programs are put in place, and special courses are offered for target populations. Still, effective retention results can be elusive.

This program will examine some of the stumbling blocks to improved retention. Participants will be challenged to examine why students stay at a particular institution and why they leave. Some of these factors can be controlled, and some cannot. A critical piece of analysis is to identify what an institution (and faculty) can “fix” and what it (and the faculty) cannot “fix.”

This webinar will also ask participants to identify and commit to institutional and classroom strategies that can improve retention rates at their particular institutions, giving them concrete plans to take home and integrate. Participants will also be led through a very simple three-step process to help identify the appropriate components of a retention plan.

Participants will:

• Increase awareness about general student retention issues and trends
• Differentiate between the concepts of “student retention” and “student success”
• Identify who is responsible for student retention at their institution
• Explore reasons why students STAY at their institution--what keeps the students coming back?
• Explore reasons why students LEAVE their institution--what keeps them from returning to campus and completing their program of study?
• Examine four critical points where students may be “lost”—or lose their momentum to complete their program of study
• Identify one institutional strategy that can lead to increased student retention
• Identify one classroom strategy that can lead to increased student retention
• Begin to examine the various components of an effective student retention plan

• 2-year institutions & 4-year institutions
• Vice President Academic Affairs/Instruction
• Dean of Instruction
• Dean of Student Services/Affairs
• Faculty (full and part-time)
• Admissions
• Advising
• Counseling
• Disabilities Services
• Enrollment Services
• Financial Aid
• Recruiters
• Registrar
• Residence Life
• Retention Specialist
• Student Life
• Diversity
• First Year Experience
• Online Learning
• Tutoring