An Engaged CAO and CBO on How They Collaboratively Moved the Needle in Student Retention and Graduation The Wayne State University Perspective August 2014

Wayne State University Profile Location: In the “D”! Enrollment: 28,000 (2/3 Undergrad; 1/3 Grad) Schools / Colleges: 13 Faculty: 1,750 FT & 1,030 PT Current Funds Budget: $930 M – General Fund Budget: $580 M Research Expenditures: $250 M

Challenges WSU is facing Demographics: – Enrollment increased steadily 2000 to 2010; decreased over last four years – Have relied relatively small geographic area for enrollment – Declining year old population in Detroit and loss of over all Detroit population Competition: – Everyone wants Detroit students – Aggressive Financial Aid Packages offered at undergrad, grad and professional – Campus Encroachment—Other institutions adding locations in Detroit Students: – Significant amount of students require financial aid – Majority of student are commuters---making it challenging for living / learning communities – Retention & Graduation—1 st year retention “OK”, but 4-Year and 6-Year graduation rates are not good Funding – State Performance funding factors are student related, but they are historically based upon factors from initiatives 4 to 8 years ago These indicators do not reflect and do not incorporate all the recent initiatives. WSU Student mix has changed drastically – Pressure to limit tuition increases, but State Appropriations (per student) are at FY 1993 levels – Have pressures to funds both the academic and research enterprises Workforce: – Aging Faculty – Heavily Unionized Environment

Recruitment Initiatives Financial Aid Packages – Providing merit based financial aid packages to more students Expansion of Social Media Getting Students to Campus – The “Detroit” image Community College Dual enrollment programs International Recruitment Student Surveys – Of the students who were admitted and did NOT come

Curriculum Mathematics Enhancements Gen Education Curriculum Review Advising Additional Advisors Proactive Advising Advisor Training Advising Tools Teaching Expansion of the Office for Teaching and Learning Readiness Admission Standards Develop Summer Bridge Program Supplemental Instruction Success Courses First Year Learning Communities Enhanced Orientation Financial Finishing Line Scholarships Promote Financial Literacy 5 Retention Initiatives

Other Student Success Initiatives are Underway without Breaking the Bank? Examining various tuition structures to enhance academic performance or time to degree – To Plateau or not to Plateau – Summer Incentives Redistributing Financial Aid Allocations to enhance Net Tuition Revenue and ROI Development of “One Stop Shop” for Student Services