DIXIE STATE UNIVERSITY The Faculty Role in Student Retention David Roos, Ed.D. Executive Director,...

DIXIE STATE UNIVERSITYThe Faculty Role in Student Retention

David Roos, Ed.D.Executive Director, Enrollment ManagementDroos@dixie.edu * 435.652.7704

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 20146,000

7,000

8,000

9,000

10,000

6,443

7,911

8,7559,086 8,863

8,350 8,570

HEADCOUNT …

FY 2009 FY 2013 FY 2014100

200

300

400

500

600

213

512535

BACHELORS DEGREES AWARDED …

DSU Retention Trends …

National Retention Rates …

Moral to the story: Moving the needle on student retention requires a significant effort!

- Tinto’s Student Departure Model

- A Psychological Model of Student Retention. Bean & Eaton

- Seidman, 2001

WHO CAN BE INFLUENCED?

Will stay or go dependingOn interactions & experiences

At Dixie State.

WHERE ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO INFLUENCE STUDENT INTENT?

Less than 10% of our students reside on campus. Primary interactions are in the classroom. Students

drive to campus, go to class, and then often go home or to a job or off-campus apartment.

FACULTY ARE THE KEY!

“Student-Faculty interaction has a stronger relationship to student satisfaction with the college experience than any other involvement variable, or indeed, any other student or

institutional characteristic.”

- Alexander Astin

FACULTY …• have more frequent and continuous contact

with students than any other campus representative.

• evaluate student performance and judge whether students are achieving outcomes.

• can more closely observe student behavior and recognize at-risk behaviors.

- Joseph Cuseo

Students who have frequent contact with faculty members during their college years are more satisfied with their educational experiences, are less likely to drop out, and perceive themselves to have learned more than students who have less faculty contact.”

- Cross (1998)

What can Faculty do increase student persistence?

THE TOP 10 LIST!

NUMBER 10!

• Get to know your students by their first name.• Get to know their names early.• Use their names frequently in class.

HOW?

NUMBER 9!

• Use instructional techniques that appeal to a wide variety of learning Styles.

• Visual – Auditory – Tactile.

NUMBER 8!

• Set a positive tone that focuses on student success. Be enthusiastic about your topic.

NUMBER 7!

• Provide timely feedback. Reinforce positive behavior. Ensure that expectations are clear.

NUMBER 6!

Encourage students to participate in the discussion. Ask thought-provoking questions.

“The teacher is of course an artist, but being an artist does not mean that he or she can make the profile, can shape the students. What the

educator does in teaching is to make it possible for the students to become themselves.” -Freiere

NUMBER 5!

• Encourage the students to interact with each other.

• Encourage small group or team-building exercises.

• Encourage out-of-class study groups• Collaborative Learning (NSSE)

NUMBER 4!

• Be aware of at-risk behavior in class.• Respond appropriately.• Use Starfish to include the Student Success

Center in offering support.• Supportive Campus environment (NSSE)

NUMBER 3!• Set high expectations and standards in class.• High level of academic challenge. Higher-

order thinking skills (NSSE).

NUMBER 2!

• Utilize TECHNOLOGY to promote learning and student interaction.

• Canvas … “Powerschool” generation• In-class polling• Online discussions• Social media• Utilize Center for Teaching and Learning

NUMBER 1!

• Student-Faculty Interaction!• Get to know your students. Use survey.• Meet with students before or after class• Encourage students to meet with you during

office hours.• Let students know that you care about them

as individuals and learners.

WHAT ELSE?