Retain a Freshman Today… Produce a Graduate Tomorrow UCCS Campus Forum on Retention, November, 2007 Barbara Gaddis and Robyn Marschke

RETENTION The process of holding or keeping in one’s possession.

Success – Not Retention

What Retention Is and Is Not Retention is helping students reach high academic standards Retention is NOT lowering academic standards Retention is NOT keeping students who should not be here Student Persistence…. Student Engagement…. Student Success

Highest Student Retention Ever at UCCS! Thank you for all your hard work

Realities of Student Retention We lose 1/3 of freshman class each year Of 27 peers*, 21 have higher retention, 6 have same or lower $7.5 million-plus at risk Failure to progress = failure to reach personal goal, failure of human potential * Data not available from 4 peers.

The Retention Puzzle: Who Do We Lose? And Why?

Factors Affecting Student Persistence Demographics First Generation Housing Fall GPA Credit Hours Attempted College and Major Freshman Seminar Excel Centers Financial Aid Intention to Transfer

Fall 2006 Entering Cohort Gender & Ethnicity Men (67%) and women (68%) have similar retention rates. Students of color (64%) are less likely to be retained than whites (69%). Among students of color, mens’ rates are higher. 58% of non-retained students of color had a first semester GPA > 2.0

Fall 2006 Entering Cohort First Generation About 40% of freshmen are first generation Students of color are more likely to be first-generation: 50% of Asian students, 50% of Black students, 57% of Latino/a students, 36% of White students First Generation is beneficial for some groups.

Fall 2006 Entering Cohort Housing Second cohort in which students living on campus have lower retention rate. Speculation: Expectations? Expenses? 58% of non-retained students of color had a first semester GPA > 2.0

Fall 2006 Entering Cohort Fall GPA

Fall 2006 Entering Cohort Credit Hours Attempted

Fall 2006 Entering Cohort Major Group Pre-professional majors are included in relevant academic group, not in actual college.

Freshman Retention by College Declared major: 69% Undecided (LSUD): 55% Pre-college : 57% (PRNU, PRBU, PREN, PRED)

Fall 2006 Entering Cohort Retention by Top 10 Majors

Freshman Seminar and Retention

Freshman Seminar and Retention Enrollment in ID101 Helps! In 2006, 66% of freshmen enrolled FS students have higher retention (69%) versus 62% of freshmen who didn’t enroll Grade in FS predicative of overall success.

Excel Centers and Retention

The Impact of Financial Aid on Retention and $tudent $ucce$$ 73% freshmen got some type of award 40% freshmen took out loans 48% freshmen received scholarships 6% freshmen had work-study awards

Fall 2006 Entering Cohort Where Did They Go?

Fall 2006 Entering Cohort Where Students Transferred

Characteristics of Non-Retained Students

Retention and Student Intentions 77% of the freshmen intended to earn degree from UCCS 14% intended to transfer 76% say UCCS is first-choice Retention Rates: Students intending to stay: 71% Students Intending to transfer: 59% Students we are first choice: 72%

Lower Student Engagement UCCS students below peers in: Contributing to class discussions Service learning Discussing career plans with faculty or advisor Study abroad Relationships with other students Relationships with faculty members Participating in co-curricular activities Understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds Developing a personal code of ethics Contributing to the welfare of the community 2006 National Survey of Student Engagement Results

About Our 2007 Freshmen Class 1013 freshmen (93% full-time) 18-19 years old (96%) 55% female, 23% minority 40% first generation 41% live on campus Average index score: 103 Top Majors: LSUD, biology, pre-engineering, pre-nursing, psychology, marketing, nursing

Ensuring Student Success: Past Accomplishments, Current Efforts, Future Goals Coaching Freshman Seminar Tutoring/Learning Workshops Peer Mentoring SWAT Team Mentoring Early Alert/Early Intervention Undecided/Pre-Major Workshops Departmental Projects Student Engagement Projects Retention Research Projects

SWAT TEAM!

A or F? Early Alert System Coaching, advising, tutoring Decreased numbers of freshmen getting below 2.0 Increased retention LexNet web-based system A or F?

Undecided/Pre-Major Interventions Pre-Major Advisor Kate Lane Undecided advising workshops Career Center Future Selves Internships Registration help site Business? English? Sociology? Psychology? Biology?

Retention and Academics Teaching and research interacts with student learning: Chemistry, Engineering, Math, VAPA. and many more!

Student Engagement: Linking Academics and Student Success Learning Communities Academic Orienteering Engaging Pedagogies

Future Research: Finding a Key to Retention Multiyear analysis of factors affecting retention Inventory of retention activities Focus groups on students’ experiences Predictive modeling

Responsibility for Success: Whose is it? Student Student Success staff Faculty Staff Administration We are ALL responsible for student success!

Retain A Freshman. Make A Difference Retain A Freshman..Make A Difference! UCCS Campus Forum on Retention, November , 2007 Barbara Gaddis and Robyn Marschke

Mentor sign-up Student engagement sign-up

Index Scores and Freshman Retention

Retention and Fall GPA 7% 11% 14% 19% 25% 24%