What Faculty Members Need to Know About Retention

Student retention is one of the most critical topics in higher education today.

National surveys of college presidents indicate that student retention is usually listed as one of the hottest issues, and for good reason.

Concerns over tightening budgets and heightened accountability are fueling renewed attention on student success and ensuring that enrolled students receive the assistance necessary to complete their academic programs.

What does all this have to do with faculty members?

Everything.

Professors and instructors are critical to battling rising dropout rates. What happens in the college classroom is central to a student’s decision-making process and desires to persist in college.

The good news is that faculty members do not have to lower their standards in order to retain more students. By implementing the right strategies, they can dramatically improve retention rates without sacrificing academic quality or rigor.

This Magna Publications White Paper, What Faculty Members Need to Know About Retention, details key methods professors can employ to prevent dropouts and increase student success in college.

Based on a popular online seminar led by  Jerry Pattengale Ph.D., this White Paper explains:

• Why student retention matters
• 12 ways you can improve student retention
• The central role of faculty members in preventing dropouts
• Effectivestudent retention interventions to use in the classroom
• How to make coursework more meaningful to students
• Teaching strategies that support student retention
• The importance of personalizing instruction
• How you can run a more engaging classroom
• Strategies for you to get to know all the students in your classes
• Unique traits of Millennial students that can impact student retention
• “Frontloading” assistance for at-risk students
• Identifying potential dropouts in your courses
• How to make retention efforts more “intrusive”
• Key retention terminology
• Student retention and faculty job security
• How effective student retention efforts can also improve student evaluations
• How to “endow” a student retention “chair” in your department

This report also includes an informative retention quiz designed to deliver essential background knowledge.

This 47-page White Paper is based on a Magna Publications Online Seminar originally delivered on November 20, 2008 by Jerry Pattengale, Ph.D., Assistant Provost for Scholarship & Public Engagement and a Professor of History at Indiana Wesleyan University. Pattengale led the development of Indiana Wesleyan University’s first-year experience program, which saw retention rates climb from 68 percent to 82 percent. He speaks and presents nationally on student motivation and success.

This White Paper is recommended for faculty members, instructors, academic affairs professionals and student affairs administrators and staff. Like our other Magna Publications products, this White Paper is practical and solution-focused with actionable steps you can use right away to enhance professional skills.

Increasing student retention in college classes doesn’t have to take a lot of time or lower academic standards. Learn how professors can maintain academic quality, improve course evaluations, and enhance motivation levels by investing in What Faculty Members Need to Know About Student Retention: A Magna Publications White Paper today.

Cost

You can download the PDF of this white paper, or get the print version mailed to you.

Want to make this White Paper available for ongoing training?

Order the Campus Access License and load the White Paper onto your institution’s internal Web site for unlimited, convenient, on-demand access for all members of your campus community. Read all the benefits of the Campus Access License.

TO ORDER: What Faculty Members Need to Know About Retention
Description Price White Paper in Print Format $139 White Paper in Downloadable PDF Format $99 White Paper in Downloadable PDF Format w/ Campus Access License $299	Satisfaction Guaranteed If you're not completely satisfied, return your purchase within 30 days of receipt for a full refund.