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

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

4. Success –
Not Retention

5. 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

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

8. 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.

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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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.

14. 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

15. Fall 2006 Entering Cohort
Fall GPA

16. Fall 2006 Entering Cohort Credit Hours Attempted

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

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

19. Fall 2006 Entering Cohort Retention by Top 10 Majors

20. Freshman Seminar and Retention

21. 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.

22. Excel Centers and Retention

23. 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

25. Fall 2006 Entering Cohort Where Did They Go?

26. Fall 2006 Entering Cohort Where Students Transferred

27. Characteristics of Non-Retained Students

28. 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%

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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

32. SWAT TEAM!

33. 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?

34. 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?

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

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

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

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

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

40. Mentor sign-up
Student engagement sign-up

41. Index Scores and Freshman Retention

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