SAES - Preparing. Finding. Implementing Solutions

Moving from Success to Significance – Successful Retention Strategies

Agribusiness, Applied Economics and Agriscience Education

“Moving from Success to Significance – Successful Strategies for Retention”

SAES - Preparing. Finding. Implementing Solutions

Moving from Success to Significance – Successful Retention Strategies

Strategies – “It’s a Disney Experience”

• Working as part of the University and the SAES retention plan – All parties aware of the plan and the direction

• Following all the existing strategies– Haven’t reinvented the wheel– Just added to it

• Willing faculty– See teaching/advising as a career and not just a job with a paycheck– Stay after hours and work with students– Ask students rather than wait until students ask for help– Willing to work with students, even those not registered in one of their

classes– Competent in the subject matter and willing to share the information– Approachable

SAES - Preparing. Finding. Implementing Solutions

Moving from Success to Significance – Successful Retention Strategies

Strategies – “It’s a Disney Experience”

• Nurturing staff– Regularly interact with students– Provide necessary and legal information and updates to parents

• Critically select retention coordinator– Good communicator– Non judgmental– Role model– Keeps it real– Respects students where they are

• On campus student experiences– Faculty grants include student assistantships/work study

• Keep student on campus for jobs• Helps keep student in the academic atmosphere

– Social interactions– Students attending conferences with faculty

• Need to see success

SAES - Preparing. Finding. Implementing Solutions

Moving from Success to Significance – Successful Retention Strategies

Obstacles – “Not Your Granddaddy’s Ag”

• Same issues as other units – money, facilities, competent staff, etc.

• One major obstacle – Agriculture isn’t sexy– Ag is associated with cows, plows and sows– Changing minds/attitudes

• Ag as STEM – science, technology, engineering and math Ag career literacy

• Consistently marketing/promoting AAA– Marketing is everybody’s responsibility– Developing the brand

SAES - Preparing. Finding. Implementing Solutions

Moving from Success to Significance – Successful Retention Strategies

Future Plans – “It’s My Word”• Vision is to create a department where every enrolled

student graduates on time

• Developing a physical chat room– Students interact with each other– Faculty and staff interact with students

• Changing teaching methods– Constantly engage students – showing versus telling– Help student see how individual classes relate to and are a part

of their future careers – it’s not just a class

• Planning for success– As our numbers increase we have to be ready– Developing a solid foundation

SAES - Preparing. Finding. Implementing Solutions

Moving from Success to Significance – Successful Retention Strategies

We work with the motto that our job is to prepare students – we want them

prepared for work or further education.

Our work is made easier because we have effective leadership that has articulated the plan and holds all

parties accountable.

SAES - Preparing. Finding. Implementing Solutions

Moving from Success to Significance – Successful Retention Strategies

Agribusiness, Applied Economics and Agriscience Education

“Moving from Success to Significance – Successful Strategies for Retention”