A Framework for Retention – Dr Jim Black
Integrated Retention – use a matrix – student risk vs experience risk (factors can be controlled or influenced but not both)
- Address institutional risk factor – high exp/low student
- institutional & individual action required – high exp/high student
- no intervention required – low exp/low student
- individual intervention required – low exp/high student
Emerging Trends
- diminishing retention rates
- retention in a down economy
- diversification of education
- diversification of students
- pervasive student issues
- recruitment despite retention
How do we recruit graduates? – this is a mind shift for recruitment – need to look at what is the profile of successful students. Excellent information from HEOQC – Higher Ed Ontario Quality Council on retention.
High Risk Factors
- insufficient section or seat capacity
- delayed time to degree
- poor quality instruction
- lack of student/faculty interaction
- program atrophy
- not challenging students
- poor classroom management
- absence of an academic plan for the student
- protracted development education – academic upgrading
- enrolment in high risk courses
- class attendance
- late academic feedback
- underutilized academic support services
- brutal academic policies
An Institutional Framework – centred on student success – using a multi-pronged approach
- student success culture – learner centred success ethos
- culture of evidence – research questions, metrics, program evaluation
- conditions for success – engagement, integration, belonging, connections
- strategic resource allocations – expand, morph, eliminate
- campus wide engagement – formal and informal
Ten Conditions for Student Success
- create a learning environment that praises individual effort rather than performance
- require students to show up
- manage classroom behaviour
- provide early academic feedback
- engage students with opportunities to practice
- surround students with mentors
- connect students with others in academic and social settings
- ignite their passions
- foster a sense of belonging
- deliver on institutional promises
Strategic Allocation of Resources – 15% will fail regardless, 5% will succeed regardless, 80% can be influenced spread you resources in this proportion – huge wins for institutions
Managing Relationships and Information
- missed opportunities -> increase human bandwidth (unlikely in this economic climate)
- inaccurate information -> leverage technology
- poor service -> utilize knowledge management systems
- diminished loyalty -> outsource – call centres for transactional processing not relational processes, executive coaching (insidetrack)
- negative word of mouth
Avoid the tyranny of retention myths … too many to put here!