December 2008

Drinking Age Debate Continues
Choose Responsibility, a nonprofit organization founded to stimulate public discussion about the U.S. drinking age, became well-known after more than 130 college presidents released a summer 2008 Amethyst Initiative statement supporting debate about the minimum age.

Retention Event Success Begins with Starting Small
By Jennifer Patterson Lorenzetti
In my tenure as editor of Campus Events Professional, I covered many interesting and original events that were successful in creating a sense of campus community and ultimately boosting retention. But my favorite, of all the possible choices, had to be Ohio Wesleyan University’s annual birdathon. Ohio Wesley zoology professor Jed Burtt has sponsored the annual “Burtt’s Bird Count” for nearly a decade. During the single-day event, Burtt and two colleagues venture into the field, challenging…

The Long Arm of the Campus Extends
By Dennis R. Black
Faced with growing concerns about student conduct off campus, and growing complaints from surrounding neighbors, colleges and universities are expanding their student conduct authority. After a few decades of attention to campus issues, schools today are just as focused on student behaviors off campus. A few examples… 1) A reminder for students …

Increasing Retention by Improving Pre-Enrollment Events
On December 3, Matt Stillman, Director of Enrollment Analysis for Southern Oregon University will detail how institutions can strengthen campus visits and orientation during the online seminar “Pre-Enrollment Strategies to Improve Retention and Engagement.” In preparation for the December 3 event, Recruitment and Retention spoke with Stillman about his institution’s experience redesigning its pre-orientation events.

Take the Poll!
Last month's question was "Do you think lowering the U.S.’s legal minimum drinking age to 18 will help resolve alcohol problems on college campuses?"