The Pace Path to Retention Success: Student-Faculty Engagement Outside of the Classroom Dr. Kimberly Collica-Cox, Eleni Demestihas, Dr. Brian Evans, Dr. Sue Maxam, and Dr. Anna Shostya Second Annual Retention Conference June 15, 2018

Session Objectives Review the research on the connection between faculty engagement and retention Discuss best practices in faculty-student engagement

Faculty-Student Interaction Impact Faculty concern for students has a positive, statistically significant effect on student persistence – even after adjusting for a variety of precollege characteristics, including students’ intellectual ability and academic preparedness. Student-faculty contact outside the classroom correlates more strongly with college satisfaction than any other single variable. The frequency of student-faculty interaction correlate significantly with every academic achievement outcome including: college GPA, degree attainment, graduation with honors, and enrollment in graduate or professional school.

Best Practices in Faculty-Student Engagement

Best Practices Announce that office visits from students are welcome. (This sends a message to students that they value out-of-class interaction with them.) Write a personal note to students struggling in class that invites, requests, or requires them to make an office visit. Write a personal note to students doing well in a class to offer kudos and positive reinforcement. Interact personally with students immediately before/after class. Carry out volunteer work with students. When faculty are willing to go where students are, it sends a message that it is not below their professorial dignity to associate with undergraduates. It may also suggest to students that faculty are intrinsically motivated to interact with them—above and beyond the time they are required to spend with them in class or during official office hours. Students are more likely to view faculty members as “regular people,” which in turn, is likely to make them feel more comfortable about seeking contact with faculty in their offices and other out-of-class contexts; also enables faculty to be seen as personal role models to be emulated.

More Best Practices Visit with students on “their turf” (e.g., student cafeteria, student union, or residence halls). Participate in co-curricular experiences with students (e.g., cultural and recreational events on or off campus). Meet with prospective students during campus visits. Participate in new student orientation. Serve as a mentor for a special program (e.g., First Gen, Veterans) and other initiatives for vulnerable populations.

More Best Practices Serve as faculty advisor for a student club/organization. Participate in summer bridge/college immersion programs. Contribute to residential life programs (serving as a guest speaker or conducting test-review sessions in student residences) or participate in a faculty-in-residence program. Work with students on relevant campus committees (student retention or student engagement committee). Lead (or chaperone) travel courses with students. Serve as an Advisor to a student organization.

More Best Practices Participate with students on faculty-student research teams (as part of an undergraduate research program). Participate with students on faculty-student teaching teams (partnering with an upper-division student as co-instructors in a first-year seminar). Use technology to create opportunities for interaction; asynchronous chats and online office hours. Serve on prestigious scholarship review/mentor committees which guide and support student applicants.

More Best Practices Suggest creating a devoted fund, specifically for the purpose of funding faculty/student meals or discussions over cups of tea or coffee; fund or endow a program at a local food or coffee establishment for the purpose of faculty/student mentoring. For faculty not teaching a first year course, attend informal evening gatherings with students. Lead student academic teams such as Model UN, Federal Reserve Team, Ad Club, etc. Participate in volunteer/civic engagement experiences.

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