Lower Columbia CollegeLower Columbia College

Retention Calling Program

Topics

• Program History• Methodology• Outcomes

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

Why Did it Continue?

• It Was Effective

• Students and Parents Liked It

• Contacts Were Not Being Reliably Made By Other Staff

Methodology

• Student Engagement

• Provide Information

• Make Referrals

…Scripts

• Script 1 Content

• Script 2 Content

• Script 3 Content

• Script 4 Content

…Referrals

• Advising• Counseling• Financial Aid• Instructors• Learning Center• Tutoring• Activities/Clubs/Events

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

Training

• Calling Procedures

• Resource Notebooks

• Computer Training

Record Keeping

• Calling Outcomes

• Referrals Made

• Script Summaries

• Quarterly and Annual Reports

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

"An ounce of retention is worth a pound of lure."

Tim Champarde