Enrollment Management Electronic Newsletter

Retention Initiatives Updates

RETAIN

The Retention Office continues to use its CRM software RETAIN to reach out to both faculty and at-risk students. Two feedback surveys (one in late September and one in late October) were sent to faculty requesting information on students who were struggling in their classes. On the first survey, faculty were asked to report students in their 100- and 200-level classes who were experiencing difficulties; 595 unique students received 1,049 alerts. On the second survey, faculty were asked for information on a) students who might need to withdraw from their classes, and b) any students having problems who were nor reported on the last survey; 591 unique students received a total of 1,157 alerts.

Students received notification of attendance and academic alerts and the office also reached out to students on probation and students who had low midterm GPAs, both those who had received alerts and those who did not.

All advisors received a list of their advisees who had received academic and/or attendance alerts.

We also have used RETAIN to send surveys to students as well as reminders regarding registration and upcoming important deadlines.

FASTPASS (Families And Shepherd Together Promoting Academic Student Success)

We continue to update and work with the FASTPASS website to keep parents apprised of issues important to their students' success. Over the summer advisement and registration sessions, we collected e-mails from approximately 90 parents and were able to send them information directly regarding helping them help their students succeed at Shepherd.

Student Readiness Inventory

For the fourth time, the Student Readiness Inventory (SRI) was administered to all FTIC freshmen, this year through their required FYEX classes. We will be working with students who were identified as being at-risk and their faculty advisors in the upcoming spring semester.

Philosophy 100 (coordinated by Teaching and Learning)

Philosophy 100 was required this year for all students on contract for the third year in a row. For the fall 2010 cohort, the fall-to-spring and fall-to-fall retention rate of contract students surpassed that of non-contract students for the first time. This is the first time we have seen the positive effects of taking Philosophy 100 track into the fall semester as well.

TRiO Programs (in collaboration with Teaching and Learning)

The Office of Retention continues to work with the Office of TRiO programs to assist with identifying eligible students and tracking the progress of the students enrolled in the program. The office also works individually with TRiO students as needed for student success purposes.

http://www.shepherd.edu/FASTPASS/