Transcription
2021 Effective Practicesfor Student Success,Retention, andCompletion Report
TABLE OF CONTENTSMost Widely Used Strategies and Tactics for Student Success,Retention, and Completion.3Top Programs and Strategies Targeted to Specific Populationsto Increase Student Success, Retention, and Completion. 4Management Practices for Optimizing Student Success, Retention,and Completion.5Technology. 6Using retention management software to track retention. 6Using income student assessment to identify students’ needs. 6Using assessment to determine student satisfaction. 6Using a predictive model to predict the likelihood of an incoming student persisting to degree completion. 6New Strategies.7General Trend of Cohort Graduation Rate.7What Guides Retention Planning Efforts?.8Written plan guides institution’s efforts aimed at student success, retention, and completion.8Practice of annually creating or updating a written plan.8Quality of your student success, retention, and completion plan.8Student Success, Retention, and Completion Committee. 9Role of committee. 9Quality of your student success, retention, and committee. 9Chief Retention Officer.10Chief retention officer reports to which office?.10Quality of your chief retention officer.10Influence of Performance-Based Funding?. 11Appendices. 12Top General Strategies and Tactics for Student, Success, Retention, and Completion . 12Top Programs and Strategies Targeted to Specific Populations to IncreaseStudent Success, Retention, and Completion.18Management Practices for Optimizing Student Success, Retention, and Completion. 21About This Study. 28 2021 RNL 2021 Effective Practices for Student Success, Retention, and Completion Report2
Most Widely Used Strategies and Tactics for StudentSuccess, Retention, and CompletionFOUR-YEAR PRIVATE INSTITUTIONSSTRATEGY/TACTICUSINGAcademic support (e.g., learning center, math lab, tutoring)100%Mandatory first-year experience or orientation course87%Student success coaching83%Individualized academic recovery plan for students on probation or suspension80%Student life program supporting student success76%FOUR-YEAR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONSSTRATEGY/TACTICUSINGAcademic support (e.g., learning center, math lab, tutoring)98%Student success coaching85%Student life program supporting student success81%Individualized academic recovery plan for students on probation or suspension73%Intentional post-enrollment communications at key intervals to impact student retention70%TWO-YEAR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONSSTRATEGY/TACTICUSINGAcademic support (e.g., learning center, math lab, tutoring)100%Required developmental education courses85%Co-requisite courses designed to accelerate the developmental completion pathway79%Student success coaching78%Individualized academic recovery plan for students on probation or suspension72% 2021 RNL 2021 Effective Practices for Student Success, Retention, and Completion Report3
Most Widely Used Programs and Strategies Targetedto Specific Populations to Increase Student Success,Retention, and CompletionFOUR-YEAR PRIVATE INSTITUTIONSSTRATEGY/TACTICUSINGPrograms designed specifically for first-year students (e.g., orientation for first-yearstudents, a first-year experience program)91%Honors programs for academically advanced students71%Programs designed specifically for students who are at risk academically64%Programs designed specifically for international students50%FOUR-YEAR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONSSTRATEGY/TACTICUSINGPrograms designed specifically for first-year students (e.g., orientation for first-yearstudents, a first-year experience program)90%Programs designed specifically for students who are at risk academically75%Honors programs for academically advanced students74%Programs designed specifically for international students64%Programs designed specifically for veterans61%TWO-YEAR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONSSTRATEGY/TACTICUSINGPrograms designed specifically for first-year students (e.g., orientation for first-yearstudents, a first-year experience program)70%Honors programs for academically advanced students50%Programs designed specifically for online learners45%Programs designed specifically for veterans41% 2021 RNL 2021 Effective Practices for Student Success, Retention, and Completion Report4
Management Practices for Optimizing Student Success,Retention, and CompletionFOUR-YEAR PRIVATE INSTITUTIONSSTRATEGY/TACTICUSINGUsing student satisfaction assessment data to make changes to address attrition89%Assessing what's important to your currently enrolled students to help ensure theirsatisfaction and success88%Development of faculty skills in instruction87%Setting measurable goals to improve the retention rate from term-to-term oryear-to-year86%Tracking persistence and progression patterns, term by term, for all studentswho matriculate86%FOUR-YEAR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONSSTRATEGY/TACTICUSINGTracking retention rates for specific academic programs91%Identifying courses with high withdrawal and/or failure rates89%Identifying courses that are more difficult or less difficult to complete88%Tracking persistence and progression patterns, term by term, for all studentswho matriculate88%Setting measurable goals to improve the retention rate from term-to-term oryear-to-year86%TWO-YEAR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONSSTRATEGY/TACTICUSINGDevelopment of faculty skills in instruction93%Using student satisfaction assessment data to make changes to address attrition90%Setting measurable goals to improve the retention rate from term-to-term oryear-to-year88%Tracking retention rates for specific academic programs88%Identifying courses with high withdrawal and/or failure rates86% 2021 RNL 2021 Effective Practices for Student Success, Retention, and Completion Report5
TechnologyPercentage of institutions using retention management softwareto track retentionFour-year private35%Four-year publicTwo-year public47%35%TOP FUNCTIONALITIES OF THE PLATFORM12345Assessment ofstudent h studentsEarly-alertsystemPercentage of institutions using incoming student assessment toidentify students’ needsFour-year private48%Four-year public44%Two-year public30%Percentage of institutions using assessment to determinestudent satisfactionFour-year private78%Four-year public64%Two-year public75%Percentage of institutions using a predictive model to predict thelikelihood of an incoming student persisting to degree completionFour-year private31%Four-year public39% 2021 RNL 2021 Effective Practices for Student Success, Retention, and Completion ReportTwo-year public27%6
New StrategiesGiven the disruption caused by the pandemic, RNL updated this edition of the poll to ask about newstudent success strategies that were developed or expanded in the past year. Not surprisingly, virtualand tech-enabled strategies dominated the UBLICVirtual student life programs and activities69%81%60%Virtual career services programs67%75%68%Virtual faculty advising43%44%35%HyFlex courses33%44%43%Asynchronous tutoring33%40%35%Virtual group advising19%33%35%STRATEGYGeneral Trend of Cohort Graduation RateFour-year institutions: First-time, full-time freshmen who completed a four-year degree within six years.Two-year institutions: First-time, full-time freshmen who completed a two-year degree within three 2017Increased 10 percentage points or more0.0%2.9%1.3%3.2%4.2%0.0%4.9%4.7%0.0%Increased 5 to 9.9 percentage ased 1 to 4.9 percentage points30.7% 33.7% 43.4% 29.0% 36.1%33.3%31.7% 32.8% 27.3%Remained stable (within /- 1percentage points)44.6% 43.3% 36.8% 38.7% 37.5%48.1% 39.0% 42.2% 42.4%Decreased 1 to 4.9 percentage creased 5 to 9.9 percentage d 10 percentage points or more0.0%0.0%2.6%0.0%1.4%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0% 2021 RNL 2021 Effective Practices for Student Success, Retention, and Completion Report7
What Guides Retention Planning LICInstitutional strategic plan69%57%65%Strategic enrollment plan14%25%30%Neither17%18%5%Percentage of institutions where a written plan guides effortsaimed at student success, retention, and completionFour-year private55%Four-year publicTwo-year public63%68%How many institutions create or update their written plan annually?FOUR-YEAR PRIVATEFOUR-YEAR PUBLICTWO-YEAR 5%54%Quality of your student success, retention, and completion %2%QUALITY 2021 RNL 2021 Effective Practices for Student Success, Retention, and Completion Report8
Student Success, Retention, and Completion CommitteeRespondents who indicated a committee leads and coordinates efforts for student success, retention,and completion.Four-year private70%Four-year publicTwo-year public70%73%Role of committeeRespondents who had a committee were asked to choose the best response from the three optionsbelow to describe the role of their committee for student success, retention, and PUBLICThe committee gathers and shares informationthat affect multiple areas of campus.22%25%19%The committee is charged to makerecommendations that affect multiple areasof campus.59%54%51%The committee is empowered to makedecisions that affect multiple areas of campus.19%21%30%COMMITTEE ROLEQuality of your student success, retention, and or1%0%2%QUALITY 2021 RNL 2021 Effective Practices for Student Success, Retention, and Completion Report9
Chief Retention OfficerHow many institutions have an individual position charged with leading and coordinating activities forgetting results in the areas of student success, retention, and completion?Four-year private68%Four-year publicTwo-year public71%66%Which office does the chief retention officer report esident18%10%44%Academic affairs46%41%14%Student affairs18%18%21%Enrollment %18%7%Poor1%0%5%CRO REPORTS TO Quality of your chief retention officerQUALITY 2021 RNL 2021 Effective Practices for Student Success, Retention, and Completion Report10
Influence of Performance-Based Funding?Respondents were asked to indicate if their institutions’ attention to student success, retention, and/orcompletion has been influenced by performance-based funding.PERFORMANCE-BASED ICYes, performance-based funding has influencedus to pay more attention to these areas.18%47%51%No, performance-based funding has notinfluenced us to pay more attention tothese areas.82%53%49% 2021 RNL 2021 Effective Practices for Student Success, Retention, and Completion Report11
AppendicesTop General Strategies and Tactics for Student, Success,Retention, and CompletionSorted by percentage of institutions using the practice.FOUR-YEAR PRIVATE INSTITUTIONSStrategy is very effective or effective.(only out of those institutions using the strategy)STRATEGY/TACTICUSINGONLINETRADITIONAL/ON CAMPUSHYBRIDAcademic support (e.g., learning center,math lab, tutoring)100%81%99%92%Mandatory first-year experience ororientation course87%86%98%87%Faculty advising, one-on-one84%87%99%86%Student success coaching (internal)83%87%97%93%Giving students practical work experiences intheir intended major (e.g., internships, volunteerwork, experiential learning, service learning)83%80%99%87%Providing each student with an academic plan/roadmap of courses81%89%93%86%Individualized academic recovery plan forstudents on probation or suspension80%76%93%88%Congratulating, alerting, and nudging system(early alert system)80%89%94%95%Student life program supportingstudent success76%81%94%90%Use of social media to engagestudents post enrollment76%89%87%85%Advising by professional staff, one-on-one73%97%97%93%Interviews or surveys with students who arewithdrawing, before they leave71%76%74%78%Using on-campus student employment asa strategy to engage/retain students67%67%91%83%Peer mentoring66%88%94%95%Providing career services during students’ firstyear to help students see the connection betweencoursework and careers66%85%92%90%Explicit diversity, equity, andinclusion strategies65%58%85%80% 2021 RNL 2021 Effective Practices for Student Success, Retention, and Completion Report12
FOUR-YEAR PRIVATE INSTITUTIONSStrategy is very effective or effective.(only out of those institutions using the strategy)STRATEGY/TACTICUSINGONLINETRADITIONAL/ON CAMPUSHYBRIDFinancial aid and scholarships aimedat retention for specific populations65%92%96%88%Intentional post-enrollment communicationsat key intervals to impact student retention65%87%86%80%Advising specifically for students approachinggraduation to ensure they are on track64%98%100%92%Required developmental education courses61%72%93%76%Providing career services during students'second year to help students see theconnection between coursework and careers60%88%91%92%Training residence hall staff to recognizeat-risk students59%82%95%81%Orientation program targeted to transferstudents52%80%91%81%Supplemental instruction51%88%96%85%Financial literacy programs to assist studentsand parents with managing their personalfinances43%75%85%75%Learning communities42%82%93%84%Co-requisite courses designed to accelerate thedevelopmental completion pathway38%76%89%88%Providing guided pathways with fewer courseoptions to keep students moving to graduation37%85%86%86%Communication plan for recruit-back purposesfor students who have left36%64%76%78%Summer bridge program35%83%97%91%Orientation program targeted to adult students28%86%95%67%Please list any other effective practice notmentioned above19%67%100%100%Student success coaching (outsourced)10%100%100%100%Digital badging10%63%71%71%Digital diaries6%100%100%100% 2021 RNL 2021 Effective Practices for Student Success, Retention, and Completion Report13
FOUR-YEAR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONSStrategy is very effective or effective.(only out of those institutions using the strategy)STRATEGY/TACTICUSINGONLINETRADITIONAL/ON CAMPUSHYBRIDAdvising specifically for students approachinggraduation to ensure they are on track100%100%100%100%Academic support (e.g., learning center,math lab, tutoring)98%84%100%94%Congratulating, alerting, and nudging system(early alert system)98%98%92%94%Advising by professional staff, one-on-one93%93%100%93%Providing each student with an academic plan/roadmap of courses93%93%100%94%Use of social media to engage studentspost enrollment89%89%81%85%Providing guided pathways with fewer courseoptions to keep students moving to graduation88%88%89%77%Student success coaching (internal)85%82%98%93%Providing career services during students'second year to help students see the connectionbetween coursework and careers83%83%90%80%Providing career services during students’first year to help students see the connectionbetween coursework and careers82%82%93%80%Student life program supporting student success81%64%96%79%Faculty advising, one-on-one77%77%98%97%Giving students practical work experiences intheir intended major (e.g., internships, volunteerwork, experiential learning, service learning)77%77%96%91%Using on-campus student employment asa strategy to engage/retain students74%74%100%87%Individualized academic recovery plan forstudents on probation or suspension73%70%92%88%Communication plan for recruit-back purposesfor students who have left73%73%72%65%Intentional post-enrollment communicationsat key intervals to impact student retention70%91%88%89%Financial aid and scholarships aimed at retentionfor specific populations68%87%97%96%Mandatory first-year experience ororientation course68%80%98%97%Peer mentoring68%83%100%91% 2021 RNL 2021 Effective Practices for Student Success, Retention, and Completion Report14
FOUR-YEAR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONSStrategy is very effective or effective.(only out of those institutions using the strategy)STRATEGY/TACTICUSINGONLINETRADITIONAL/ON CAMPUSHYBRIDLearning communities68%53%89%77%Supplemental Instruction67%82%89%89%Please list any other effective practice notmentioned above.67%67%100%100%Explicit diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies64%63%95%84%Orientation program targeted to transfer students62%87%90%93%Required developmental education courses61%58%83%71%Digital badging60%60%67%67%Co-requisite courses designed to acceleratethe developmental completion pathway57%74%97%89%Financial literacy programs to assist students andparents with managing their personal finances56%70%89%75%Training residence hall staff to recognizeat-risk students56%56%97%85%Summer bridge program48%65%93%91%Interviews or surveys with students whoare withdrawing, before they leave46%69%79%71%Orientation program targeted to adult students26%70%77%67%Student success coaching (outsourced)10%60%60%60%Digital diaries6%50%67%67% 2021 RNL 2021 Effective Practices for Student Success, Retention, and Completion Report15
TWO-YEAR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONSStrategy is very effective or effective.(only out of those institutions using the strategy)STRATEGY/TACTICUSINGONLINETRADITIONAL/ON CAMPUSHYBRIDAcademic support (e.g., learning center,math lab, tutoring)100%85%98%97%Advising by professional staff, one-on-one94%94%94%94%Required developmental education courses85%81%97%90%Congratulating, alerting, and nudging system(early alert system)83%83%83%83%Providing each student with an academic plan/roadmap of courses83%83%83%83%Co-requisite courses designed to acceleratethe developmental completion pathway79%78%97%93%Student success coaching (internal)78%81%97%97%Individualized academic recovery plan forstudents on probation or suspension72%74%83%77%Mandatory first-year experience ororientation course72%89%91%89%Student life program supporting student success71%60%87%77%Giving students practical work experiences intheir intended major (e.g., internships, volunteerwork, experiential learning, service learning)70%70%70%70%Providing guided pathways with fewer courseoptions to keep students moving to graduation68%68%68%68%Use of social media to engage studentspost enrollment65%65%65%65%Financial aid and scholarships aimed at retentionfor specific populations64%93%93%94%Providing career services during students’first year to help students see the connectionbetween coursework and careers64%64%64%64%Explicit diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies62%69%85%90%Supplemental Instruction61%80%96%86%Faculty advising, one-on-one58%58%58%58%Providing career services during students'second year to help students see the connectionbetween coursework and careers55%55%55%55%Financial literacy programs to assiststudents and parents with managingtheir personal finances54%72%76%84% 2021 RNL 2021 Effective Practices for Student Success, Retention, and Completion Report16
TWO-YEAR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONSStrategy is very effective or effective.(only out of those institutions using the strategy)STRATEGY/TACTICUSINGONLINETRADITIONAL/ON CAMPUSHYBRIDUsing on-campus student employment asa strategy to engage/retain students53%53%53%53%Intentional post-enrollment communications atkey intervals to impact student retention52%85%80%80%Advising specifically for students approachinggraduation to ensure they are on track48%48%48%48%Interviews or surveys with students who arewithdrawing, before they leave40%53%87%79%Communication plan for recruit-back purposesfor students who have left40%40%40%40%Peer mentoring34%86%80%90%Learning communities33%67%69%70%Orientation program targeted to adult students29%85%90%90%Summer bridge program27%100%90%100%Orientation program targeted to transfer students23%89%86%86%Digital badging21%21%21%21%Training residence hall staff to recognizeat-risk students12%12%12%12%Please list any other effective practice notmentioned above.8%8%8%8%Student success coaching (outsourced)7%100%100%100%Digital diaries7%100%100%100% 2021 RNL 2021 Effective Practices for Student Success, Retention, and Completion Report17
Top Programs and Strategies Targeted to Specific Populations toIncrease Student Success, Retention, and CompletionSorted by percentage of institutions using the practice.FOUR-YEAR PRIVATE INSTITUTIONSPROGRAMS DESIGNEDSPECIFICALLY FOR:Strategy is very effective or effective.(only out of those institutions using the strategy)USINGONLINETRADITIONAL/ON CAMPUSHYBRIDFirst-year students (e.g., orientation forfirst-year students, a first-year experienceprogram)91%83%96%88%Academically advanced students71%78%93%91%Students who are at risk academically64%88%94%87%International students50%74%94%81%Online learners39%85%76%76%First-generation students39%67%97%82%Students who are at risk for reasons otherthan academics38%83%88%79%Transfer can American students36%83%94%95%Adult/nontraditional students27%85%82%79%Latinx students19%83%88%82%Members of LGBTQ 19%80%94%82%Second-year students14%70%100%71%Part-time students13%80%88%44% 2021 RNL 2021 Effective Practices for Student Success, Retention, and Completion Report18
FOUR-YEAR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONSPROGRAMS DESIGNEDSPECIFICALLY FOR:Strategy is very effective or effective.(only out of those institutions using the strategy)USINGONLINETRADITIONAL/ON CAMPUSHYBRIDFirst-year students (e.g., orientation forfirst-year students, a first-year experienceprogram)90%73%92%85%Students who are at risk academically75%68%88%85%Academically advanced students74%79%98%96%International r students58%71%81%68%Black/African American students54%64%94%84%First-generation students50%67%93%89%Students who are at risk for reasonsother than academics48%62%81%74%Members of LGBTQ 45%82%91%92%Online learners43%96%67%80%Latinx students42%68%87%88%Adult/nontraditional students22%78%50%67%Part-time students15%86%83%60%Second-year students9%75%75%75% 2021 RNL 2021 Effective Practices for Student Success, Retention, and Completion Report19
TWO-YEAR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONSPROGRAMS DESIGNEDSPECIFICALLY FOR:Strategy is very effective or effective.(only out of those institutions using the strategy)USINGONLINETRADITIONAL/ON CAMPUSHYBRIDFirst-year students (e.g., orientation forfirst-year students, a first-year experienceprogram)70%79%89%83%Academically advanced students50%82%89%87%Online learners45%94%71%92%Veterans41%85%100%100%Students who are at risk for reasonsother than academics33%91%100%90%Students who are at risk academically29%78%100%100%First-generation students28%78%100%100%Transfer students22%100%100%100%Black/African American students22%100%100%100%International students22%71%100%100%Part-time students18%100%100%100%Adult/nontraditional students13%100%100%100%Latinx students13%100%100%100%Members of LGBTQ 11%100%100%100%Second-year students9%50%100%100% 2021 RNL 2021 Effective Practices for Student Success, Retention, and Completion Report20
Management Practices for Optimizing Student Success,Retention, and CompletionSorted alphabetically by answer.FOUR-YEAR PRIVATE INSTITUTIONSPRACTICEUSED2021 EFFECTIVENESS RATINGVERYSOMEWHAT MINIMALLYEFFECTIVE EFFECTIVE EFFECTIVE202120192017Assessing what’s important toyour currently enrolled studentsto help ensure their satisfactionand success88%83%94%27%53%Benchmarking performanceagainst peer institutions (e.g.,retention and completion rates)77%83%86%12%Building agreement amongfaculty, staff, and administrationregarding retention and collegecompletion concerns77%79%N/ADevelopment of faculty skillsin advising73%N/ADevelopment of faculty skillsin instruction87%Development of faculty skillsin student engagementVERY OR lty mentor program tostrengthen the skills of new,continuing, or adjunct faculty60%66%65%22%49%28%72%72%65%Identifying courses that aremore difficult or less difficultto complete75%86%82%35%45%20%80%81%88%Identifying courses with highwithdrawal and/or failure rates70%84%84%38%47%15%85%80%80%Institution wide emphasis onthe teaching of undergraduatesand undergraduate learning85%89%N/A37%49%14%86%75%N/AMonitoring student usage ofacademic support services85%90%86%22%52%26%74%78%65%Required training programfor adjunct faculty57%51%N/A21%36%43%57%47%N/AResearch into what attractedand convinced students toenroll in order to keep promisesand understand expectations62%71%60%13%44%44%56%62%72%Reviewing course sequenceswithin academic programs toaddress attrition66%80%71%33%46%20%80%73%78% 2021 RNL 2021 Effective Practices for Student Success, Retention, and Completion Report21
FOUR-YEAR PRIVATE INSTITUTIONSPRACTICEUSED2021 EFFECTIVENESS RATINGVERYSOMEWHAT MINIMALLYEFFECTIVE EFFECTIVE EFFECTIVE202120192017Setting measurable goals forcollege completion rates82%83%80%22%53%Setting measurable goalsfor credit hours or coursescompleted55%57%60%20%Setting measurable goals toimprove the retention rate fromterm-to-term or year-to-year86%87%80%Statistical modeling to predictthe likelihood of an incomingstudent persisting to degreecompletion52%58%Title III or Title V funding52%Tracking credit hours attemptedversus completed for each termVERY OR king persistence andprogression patterns, termby term, for all students whomatriculate86%94%82%39%55%6%94%85%88%Tracking rates of ng retention rates forspecific academic programs80%86%82%30%51%19%81%84%88%Training in professional serviceskills for front-line staff,new employees, or studentemployees to make campusatmosphere student-centered63%64%63%20%45%35%65%57%74%Using a Learning ManagementSystem (LMS) to monitoracademic progress and identifyat-risk students73%70%63%30%52%19%81%67%72%Using an incoming studentassessment to identifystudents’ needs63%64%58%24%45%30%70%71%82%Using establishedcommunication proceduresto regularly communicatepersistence, retention,and completion rate datathroughout the campus75%79%73%22%49%29%71%52%71% 2021 RNL 2021 Effective Practices for Student Success, Retention, and Completion Report22
FOUR-YEAR PRIVATE INSTITUTIONSPRACTICEUSEDVERYSOMEWHAT MINIMALLYEFFECTIVE EFFECTIVE EFFECTIVE202120192017Using retention data to shaperecruitment strategies78%74%76%24%66%Using retention software tohelp track and manage studentretention48%52%46%39%Using student engagement datato make changes to the waysfaculty and staff interact withstudents to address attrition59%66%N/AUsing student life evaluationsto make changes to studentlife programs and services toaddress attrition77%80%Using stude
Using retention management software to track retention . Intentional post-enrollment communications at key intervals to impact student retention 70% TWO-YEAR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS STRATEGY/TACTIC USING Academic support (e.g., learning center, math lab, tutoring) 100%
