Something on student retention that may be of interest. We spend a lot of time trying to get students here. Assuming they will stay is wrong. Seems there are no easy answers but it is certainly something worth thinking about.
refer to: Porter, K.B. (2008) Current Trends in Student Retention: A Literature Review. Teaching and Learning in Nursing, 3, 3-5.
Although this paper is focussed on nursing in the US, the message is relevant for other professions and probably university students in general. Key points:
- The paper starts with a statement outlining why retaining nurses is important and the author then asks: “what is being done to retain these students?”. It is interesting to see that the implication is that there is a need to actually do something rather than sit back and assume the students, once admitted, will just stay of their own accord.
- It is noted that the student population has changed in time (more ESL students for example) and the question then is: have the programs changed to accommodate these students?
- Various ideas are floated to improve retention. For example, involving students in the life of the university, engaging them in social activities, providing a caring environment (and making sure the students are aware of it), and academics approaching students who are experiencing difficulty (rather than assuming they will approach the academic).
- Various factors were tested to see if they could act as identifiers of potential leavers. ESL students had a high attrition so this was a factor. Students who had taken relevant courses in school had better retention rates. There was also some investigation into other entrance exams and the like to see if they could explain retention. School grade point average (GPA) was positively correlated, as well as some other tests, but it was noted that these were only relevant for those students coming directly from school.
- Students like to be seen and treated as individuals.
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