Despite the fact that more students are enrolling in institutions, not all of them complete their studies. According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, which published its sixth annual study on college completion rates in the United States in 2017, student retention rates in several universities across the country are on the decline.
According to the report, only about 45 percent of college students who enrolled in 2011 completed their education at the same institution. Nearly 31% dropped out completely, while the remaining 24% transferred to another college or are still enrolled but not attending.
The significance of student retention strategies for colleges is clear in light of these statistics. Here are some enrollment strategies that college administrations can use to increase student retention.
Implement an Attendance Policy.
Because the social and academic environment of college differs greatly from that of high school, college freshmen frequently struggle to adapt and establish a daily or weekly routine. As a result, they begin to fall behind in class and eventually give up. By implementing a mandatory attendance policy, colleges can combat freshmen absenteeism and reduce early dropouts. Students who miss multiple consecutive classes can be contacted by the college’s retention team to discuss any issues they may be experiencing.
Allow Easy Access to Advisors.
According to a paper on student retention and engagement published by Pennsylvania’s Mansfield University, new students need to connect to their advisors as soon as possible.
Having quick and easy access to advisors assists freshmen in understanding the purpose of their academic program and planning effectively. Encourage advisors to hold semi-regular advisory sessions for students, either individually or in small groups, to keep track of problems faced by them.
Conduct Student Engagement Activities
On-campus student engagement activities, such as joining a chess club or participating in a sports program, add value to a student’s college experience and keep them motivated.
This is why, in order to retain students, institutions must organize participatory and meaningful programs. Students feel more connected to the community when they participate in these activities and programs, which reduces their chances of dropping out.
Identify Retention Patterns with Technological Tools.
An increasingly large number of colleges are starting to use predictive analytics and machine learning-based tools to identify patterns of student retention, which are then used to boost retention rates.
Enrollment managers can use these tools to figure out what’s causing the drop in retention rates. This enables them to develop stronger student enrolment and retention strategies.
You can follow the same suit and boost student retention in your college by consulting Virtue Analytics.
We provide reliable and comprehensive enrollment management services to higher education institutions. designed with the expertise of professionals from data science, data engineering, and management, our student recruitment solutions are capable of boosting the rate of retention in colleges and increasing revenue.
