On-going Retention Initiatives
The following are on-going initiatives that the Retention Office is either coordinating or proving assistance for:
Mention it for Retention
Mention it for Retention, designed centralize alerts for at-risk students, is in its second year. As of the end of October, close to 120 students who are having problems in or outside the classroom have been referred to the Retention Office by faculty, staff, and parents. The Retention Office follows up with the students who are referred and directs them to the appropriate resources. Mention it for Retention data are collected and correlated with other indicators for identifying at-risk students.
Parents Web Page (FASTPASS)
Housed on the Shepherd University site, FASTPASS (Families And Shepherd Together Promoting Academic Student Success) is the Web page for parents and families of Shepherd students. It replaces last year's FASTPASS newsletter. Please check it out at www.shepherd.edu/FASTPASS. The special topic section is updated monthly. The retention office has received 8-10 calls generated from this site from parents concerned about their students.
Student Readiness Inventory (SRI) (in collaboration with Teaching and Learning)
The SRI is given to first-time-in-college freshmen and is currently in its second year of administration. It assesses students' readiness for college on two indexes (probability of success and probability of retention) and 10 sub-scale factors. At-risk students are identified based on these indexes/factors and services are offered/extended. Students receive a copy of their scores and advisors can request the information for their advisees as well. SRI results are correlated with mid-term grades to assess further risk factors. Students who continually fall into multiple at-risk categories are repeatedly contacted in an effort to connect them with services. Last year's data showed that the inventory is a valid measure for Shepherd University students (i.e., accurately predicts both success and retention).
Undecided Major Advising (in collaboration with Teaching and Learning)
Undecided majors are assigned to a secondary advisor to assist with navigating the catalog and eventually declaring a major. In general, we know that undecided majors tend to have lower retention rates than students who come in with a declared major. The goal of this advising program is to give those students an extra layer of connection to the University.
Withdrawing Student Survey
Last semester, the ACT-produced withdrawing students survey was administered for the first time, but with very low response rates. The survey will be sent out again this semester (fall 2009). It is designed to assess factors involved in a student's decision not to return to the Shepherd.
Philosophy 100 (coordinated by Teaching and Learning)
Philosophy 100 is last year's Philosophy 199 class and is now required of all admitted to Shepherd on contract. At the end of the semester, enrolled students' success and retention will be compared to previous years' data to see if this course is assisting in the retention and persistence of this at-risk group of students.
TRIO/SSS Grant (in collaboration with Teaching and Learning
The TRIO/SSS Grant is in the final stages of being written. It will be submitted to the Department of Education as soon as the RFPs are available. If received, the grant will allow Shepherd to provide additional services to three traditionally at-risk groups of students (low-income, first-generation, and students with disabilities).
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