Student Engagement Strategies Improving Retention in a Diverse Student Body Tara MacKay – Chief Academic Officer –

“…diverse populations of students experience college differently and encounter group-specific barriers to success.”

Engagement for Improving Retention

Behind the Buzzwords 1980s: Diversity

Behind the Buzzwords

1980s: Diversity 1990s: Engagement 2000s: Retention

Retention and Graduation Rates

Who’s At Risk?

It’s Not All Bad! Distance Ed Excels in: Attracting at-risk students Making college possible Shielding students from stereotyping Opening the classroom to the world

Group-Specific Barriers to Success

Otherness Perceived aloneness Lack of role models Majority-centric materials Deficit-minded approaches Growth outpacing resources

Support and Mentorship Difficulty with forms and procedures Difficulty locating resources/information Weaker academic ambition Weaker family support/understanding

Scheduling and Priorities Greater opportunity to drop Work priority over school Lack of continuity with class Need for distance ed- specific study skills

Accessibility Language/colloquialism barriers Cultural differences Difficulty understanding audio/video course materials “Bureaucratic interference”

Understanding Groups Through Institutional Research

Asking the Right Questions Ask questions that identify key groups Allow opt-out and maintain privacy Survey from entrance to exit (and beyond!) Use consistent questions and measures

In-Depth Studies Focus groups, case studies Sessions military student study to ask: – What are military time commitments? – Do fellow military members support design education? – Do fellow design students support military background?

Equitable (and Easy!) Strategies for Engagement

Representative Course Materials Racial/ethnic diversity in visuals Engaging language Diversity content in gen ed courses

Representative Course Materials

Accessible Course Materials Text transcripts Appropriate reading level Careful use of slang Screen-reader accessibility Accommodation training for staff

Experience-Based Assessments Projects that reflect/share backgrounds Lightly directed discussions

Experience-Based Assessments

Faculty Members = Role Models Make diverse faculty a priority Encourage relate-ability Make faculty visible and accessible Pay attention to student feedback

Scheduling and Advisement Cohort scheduling Assistance/understanding in scheduling Easy-to-read policies and resource guides Sensitivity training for advisors Group-specific advisement

Scheduling and Advisement

More Ideas and Next Steps Tutoring and remediation Clubs and community groups “Did you know?” campaign Allocation of resources to diversity and engagement

Any questions? Tara MacKay