Refocus & RetainThe Roadway to Student

SuccessThe Roadway to Student

Success

Presented by:Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D.Vice President for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management

Summer 2009 Cabinet Retreat

Presented by:Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D.Vice President for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management

Summer 2009 Cabinet Retreat

Retention Myths

Reaching out to retain students begins after enrollment.

A student’s decision to stay or leave a campus is made independently.

Retention is all about financial aid.Students are forthright about their

reasons for leaving school.

Retention Realities

Retention begins during recruitment and continues throughout the student’s academic career.

Retention efforts are most effective when families are included in the process.

Retention is influenced by excellent support and service guided by “real” people and authentic experiences

Retention is not easy and requires us to collaborate, advise, refer, and follow-through; we must be solution-oriented to avoid attrition.

General Persistence Theory

Students’ Decisions to Stay

Financial Resources

Academic Preparedness

Social & Academic Integration

Commitment to their Academic Goals

Campus Climate

Taking Action

Build meaningful relationships Share the NIU culture

Value and praise students Get students involved

Provide academic support Be mindful of cultural & family

influences

The enemy of The enemy of greatgreat, is , is

goodgood..

Retention is a Retention is a by-product of by-product of greatgreat people, people, programs & programs &

servicesservices

Taking Action

Development of a division-wide retention plan

What is already happening? How are these efforts

being measured?

What can be immediately integrated? Think… small Think… small

changes, big impact!changes, big impact!

Act as if what you do Act as if what you do makes a difference. makes a difference.

It does.It does. William James

Questions?Questions?