1. Lower Columbia College Lower Columbia College Retention Calling Program

2. Topics Program History Methodology Outcomes

3. History Began in 1996 Funded through Innovation and Quality Grant Based on Theories of Astin (1984) and Tinto (1987) Focus: –Early / Integrated Intervention –Involvement Theory –Personal Contact

4. Why Did it Continue? It Was Effective Students and Parents Liked It Contacts Were Not Being Reliably Made By Other Staff

5. Methodology Student Engagement Provide Information Make Referrals

6. …Scripts Script 1 Content Script 2 Content Script 3 Content Script 4 Content

7. …Referrals Advising Counseling Financial Aid Instructors Learning Center Tutoring Activities/Clubs/Events

8. Retention Staff Student Callers –Three Callers 5:00-7:00 M-Th Supervision of Callers –By professional advising staff Challenges –Limited work hours (8 hrs/wk) –Student help pay rate

9. Training Calling Procedures Resource Notebooks Computer Training

10. Record Keeping Calling Outcomes Referrals Made Script Summaries Quarterly and Annual Reports

11. Outcomes Fall-to-Winter Retention Rates 85%2006-2007 82%2005-2006 89%2004-2005 83%2003-2004 85%2002-2003 85%2001-2002 91%2000-2001 87%1999-2000 75%1998-1999 82%1997-1998 81%1996-1997 70-71%1993 through 1996

12. "An ounce of retention is worth a pound of lure." Tim Champarde