Cultivate a LearnerCentered Environment for Success: Increase student retention and graduation rates

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Cultivate a Learner-Centered Environment for
SuccessIncrease student retention and
graduation rates

• Ms. Terri Capellman, Assistant Director of First
  Year Experience, Residence Services
• Dr. Sally Kandel, Associate Vice President,
  Research, Planning, and Institutional
  Effectiveness
• Dr. Gary Padak, Dean of Undergraduate Studies
• Mr. Wayne Schneider, Institutional Research
  Information Officer, SR.

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Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP)

• CIRP is the nation's largest and oldest empirical
  study of higher education (1966), involving data
  on some 1,800 institutions and over 11 million
  students. 
• Most comprehensive source of information on
  college students. 
• Annual report of the CIRP Freshman Survey
  provides normative data on each year's entering
  college students 425,000

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Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP)

• Kent State Kent Campus 1995 CIRP
• 2,269 freshman students
• Kent State Kent Campus 1998 CIRP
• 2,324 freshman students
• Kent State Kent Campus 2003 CIRP
• 3,095 freshman students 86

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Student Demographics - CIRP

• KSU KSU KSU
• 1995 1998 2003
• Permanent home 54.7 60.1
  54.9
• 50 miles or less
• Permanent home 45.3 39.9
  45.1
• more than 50 miles
• First generation 59.8 61.5 57.5
• fathers education
• First generation 65.4 62.8
  59.9
• mothers education

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Student Demographics - CIRP

• KSU KSU KSU
• 1995 1998 2003
• Kent 1st choice 65.3 69.5
  74.9
• Kent 2nd choice 26.8 22.7
  20.2
• Reasons noted as very important in student
  decision to attend Kent State (CIRP 2003)
• 1. Very good academic reputation 46.6
  (39.9)
• 2. A visit to the campus
  33.8
• 3. Size
  25.8 (24.5)
• 4. Good reputation social activities 25.8
  (20.4)

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Academic Preparation Behavior - CIRP

• KSU KSU KSU
• 1995 1998 2003
• lt 2 hrs. homework ---- 39.2 41.2
• weekly
• lt 2 hrs. reading for 71.8 78.3 77.4
• pleasure weekly
• need math tutoring 34.7 ---- 34.9
• or remediation
• improve reading 37.4 42.5 37.2
• study skills

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Academic Preparation Behavior - CIRP

• KSU KSU KSU
• 1995 1998 2003
• Frequently bored 42.9 40.9
  43.7
• in class
• Overslept and 39.1 40.8
  36.9
• missed class
• Chances very good ---- 44.9 53.5
• to make B average
• Chances very good ---- 38.9
  41.9
• to be satisfied with
• my college

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• The combination of academic disengagement and
  record high school grade inflation poses a real
  challenge for our higher education system since
  students are entering college with less
  inclination to study but with higher academic
  expectations than ever.
• Alexander Astin January 28, 2002

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Stress Level CIRPThe Therapy Generation

• KSU KSU KSU
• 1995 1998 2003
• Parents alive, 30.1 28.6
  29.0
• divorced or
• living apart
• Felt depressed 11.6 14.6
  12.3
• Felt overwhelmed 26.0 38.3 33.7
• by all I had to do
• Drank beer 65.8 62.6
  58.0

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Other- CIRP

• KSU KSU All public
• 1998 2003 2003
• Very good chance 70.7 74.7
  80.0
• to earn bachelors
• Get job to help pay 44.3 52.5
  45.4
• college expenses
• Change major field 28.6 23.0 30.6
• or career choice
• Socialize with ---- 55.5
  66.1
• person of another
• racial/ethnic group

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Retention A National ProblemFreshman to
Sophomore Year 1983-2003

• By Institutional Type Current
• Two-Year public 53.2
• BA/BS public 68.2
• MA public 69.8
• PHD public 77.3
• Two-year private 67.0
• BA/BS private 70.4
• MA private 74.3
• PhD private 82.3
• National 67.3
• Source Compiled from ACT Institutional Data File
  2003

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What National Research Tells Us About Retention

• Academic Preparation-Especially in advanced math
• Commitment (motivation, degree aspirations)
• Consistency between expectations and experiences
• Involvement
• Integration-Comfort level with institutional
  factors (i.e., faculty, staff, and other
  students)
• Family support or family responsibilities
• First generation status
• Impact of financial issues and work off campus
• Each situation is different
• Source The Policy Center on the First Year of
  College

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Persistence at 4-Year State Universities
Source OH Board of Regents
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Kent Campus First Time Freshmen
15
Retention Rate for Freshmen Kent Campus by HS GPA
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Lost of Kent Campus Freshmen
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Retention Recommendations

• Theme 1
• Coordination of Retention Efforts Across
  Divisions
• Cross-Divisional FYE Committee
• Theme 2Teaching and Learning
• Provide coherent and engaging learning
  experiences
• Assist faculty in promoting active student
  engagement

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• Theme 3 Identification and Intervention of
• At-Risk Students
• Identify potential non-returning students and
• develop appropriate interventions
• Theme 4 Academic Advising
• Continue to promote Advisor development
• through KASADA

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• Theme 5 Commuter Students
• Evaluate how well we are retaining students in
• the 8-Campus System and explore the creation
• of a Regional Campus Learning Community
• Theme 6 Adapting to the Kent State Culture
• Train all staff in retention knowledge and
• etiquette