Update to the Strategic Enrollment and Retention Task Force August 24, 2010 Retention Subcommittee

Update to the Strategic Enrollment and Retention Task Force

August 24, 2010

Retention Subcommittee

Retention Subcommittee

Meeting DatesMeeting Dates• Every two weeks since February 1, 2010• Participants

– Greg Barker, Testing Services– John Jones, Student Affairs/Enrollment Management– Cynthia Nelson, Mathematics– Michelle Pickett, Academic Advising Center– Denis Rode, Orientation & First Year Experience– Micky Sharma, Counseling & Student Development Ctr.– Jill Zambito, Off Campus & Non-Traditional Students– Dana Gautcher, Office for Student Academic Success– Linda Traff, Administration & Univ. Outreach – Lori Marcellus, College of Business– Brad Bond, Graduate School– Denise Hayman, CHANCE

Data ReviewedData Reviewed

• Provided in April, 2010 presentation

• Additional review– Undergraduate students who leave– Performance gaps

•Under-represented students

ProgressProgress

• Objective #1– Enhance student learning and

success in an effort to improve undergraduate persistence, retention and graduation rates

• Strategic Objective– Improve semester-to-semester

retention and graduation rates of undergraduate students

Specific Strategies/Program Ideas/OutcomesSpecific Strategies/Program Ideas/Outcomes

• Strategy #1– Establish a campus-wide process for

the identification of and intervention with “High Risk” (“At Risk”) freshmen•Establish a coordinating committee

through the Office of the Vice Provost & Office for Student Academic Success (OSAS)

•Develop a definition of “High Risk”

• Strategy #1 Outcome– Plan in place – Fall 2012– Reality – Implementing process now


• Strategy #2– Intervene with “High Risk”

freshmen•Utilize OSAS to coordinate campus-

wide effort

• Strategy #2 Outcome– Decrease percentage of freshmen

who obtain a first-year GPA of less than 2.0 by 7% (Fall 2008 Cohort = 21%)


• Strategy #3– Establish a campus-wide process for the

identification and intervention with “High Risk” transfer students• Establish a coordinating committee through

the Office of the Vice Provost & OSAS

• Strategy #3 outcome– Plan in place – Fall 2012– Discussions have begun


• Strategy #4– Intervene with “High Risk” transfer

students• Utilize OSAS to coordinate campus-wide

effort• Develop definition of “High Risk”

transfer student

• Strategy #4 outcome– Decrease percentage of transfer

students who leave NIU by 1.5% per year (22% after first year – Fall 08 Cohort)


• Strategy #5– Identify and intervene with

undergraduate students likely to leave NIU before obtaining a degree• Coordinate efforts through the OSAS

• Strategy #5 outcome– Decrease the number of

undergraduate students who leave NIU before earning a degree by 1% per year (Fall 08 Cohort = 15% in one year)

– Increase the number of students who utilize student support services by 10 per year


• Strategy #6– Increase the 4-year graduation rate

• Strategy #6 outcome– Attain 30% 4-year graduation rate

(8 year average = 24.7)

Specific Strategies/Program Specific Strategies/Program Ideas/OutcomesIdeas/Outcomes

• Strategy #7– Develop a process for retaining off-

campus degree completion undergraduate students• Establish a coordinating committee

through the Office of the Vice Provost

• Strategy #7 outcome– Plan in place – 2012– Off-campus degree completion

undergraduate students will have access to student support services utilizing appropriate technologies to meet their needs by 2012


• Strategy #8– Establish a base-line for retention

of off campus degree completion undergraduate students

• Strategy #8 outcome– Decrease the number of students

leaving off campus undergraduate degree completion programs


• Strategy #9– Develop a plan to improve the

campus climate to facilitate student success and graduation•Establish a campus wide task force to

develop and monitor a plan

– Strategy #9 outcome•Plan in place – 2012


• Strategy #10– Decrease the gaps in graduation

rates (students who are white vs. those from under-represented groups)

• Strategy #10 outcome– Decrease the graduation gaps by

2% per year to achieve gaps no greater than 10% (Currently -15.7%)


• Strategy #11– Decrease the graduate gap in

graduation (male vs. female students)

• Strategy #11 outcome– Decrease the graduation gaps by

1% per year to achieve equal rates (Currently -4.3%)

Next StepsNext Steps

• Determine targets– First-year retention for new

freshmen = 80% - 85%– Six-year graduation for new

freshmen•Return to 51%-52%•Five year plan = 55%-60% (need to

finalize)

Next StepsNext Steps

• Graduate Students– Focus on

•Time to degree for master’s level•Completion of doctoral degrees

Questions and Comments

Questions and Comments

Documents

Update to the Strategic Enrollment and Retention Task Force August 24, 2010 Retention Subcommittee