1. Recommendations for Increasing Graduation and Retention Rates
A suggestion-gathering effort by ASSA

2. The charge and the contributors
In 2015, ASSA was charged with providing recommendations to increase retention and graduation rates.
This document presents information and suggestions gathered from
The Office of Institutional Effectiveness
ASSA Committee members
Faculty from across campus who offered input

3. Advising and Tracking Suggestions
General advising for all students upon entry to WSU
Situation-specific advising
Automated notifications
Required advising when majors change
Advising for students earning fewer than 30 credits per academic year, facing academic probation, or failing a key class
Improved tracking/advising interface
Degree maps
General advising: (1) for all students regardless of whether students are transferring in, returning, or attending for the first time
(2) should include help for students to decide whether they will function best in face-to-face or online environments.
for all students regardless of whether students are transferring in, returning, or attending for the first time
Improved interface: a more user-friendly and intuitive CatTracks
Automated: (1) standardized s triggered by a major declaration or change, (2) advisory s triggered by enrollment in certain courses & by registration holds

4. Curricular Change Suggestions
Reducing general education credits required
Being aware of and eliminating bottlenecks
Improving the convenience of course offerings
Hybrid classes
Classes on the Davis campus
Core-required classes
Major/minor-required classes
Evening and weekend course availability
Gen Ed: WSU-designation classes
Bottlenecks: Developmental classes, core-required classes (QL), and major/minor-required classes

5. Financial Incentive Benefits
Preliminary findings from the OIE: The factor that most impacts a student's odds of graduation is whether or not they received grants, scholarships, or waiver money. Loans also have an impact, but receiving money that does not need to be paid back has the most positive impact on students’ graduation rates.

6. Financial Incentive Suggestions
Distributing scholarships broadly
Offering major-advancement scholarships / tuition assistance
Students could have the cost of up to one semester (the final one) waived
To qualify, students must have satisfactory GPAs and be on schedule for graduation
This concept could include mini-rewards each semester (e.g. discounts/gift cards at Campus Stores to help purchase textbooks)
Distributing scholarships broadly: try to spread scholarship awards among as many deserving students as possible
Major-advancement scholarships / tuition assistance: would encourage not only high GPAs but also progress toward timely graduation

7. Engagement Suggestions
Enhancing first-year experiences for all first-year students
Expanding concurrent enrollment
Promoting and publicizing students’ success alongside faculty recognition
Reaching out to students who discontinue school or face significant challenges
Surveying students who leave WSU (transfer away, drop out, etc.)
First-year experiences: in-depth contact with campus resources and support services during their first year at WSU, facilitated through as many services as possible
Concurrent enrollment: preliminary OIE: students with high-school/university concurrent course credit are more likely to graduate
Promoting: deans’ offices could publish electronically good news from both faculty and students. Distributing these among faculty and students could help to create a sense of belonging.
Reaching out: faculty members, program directors, chairs, etc, can make contact with majors/minors who are no longer enrolling.