Retention rates on the rise as more students stay on campus

Basketball fanaticism, top-notch academic programs, bragging rights to the number one party school -- whatever the reason, IU students keep coming back for more, year after year. IU's student retention rates improved significantly this year on seven of its eight campuses, and the numbers are expected to keep climbing. \nRetention is measured by the amount of full-time beginning students who return for their second year. These returning students represent a key indicator of graduation rates. \nIn the fall of 2002, 77.7 percent of full-time beginning students returned to IU, according to statistics compiled by the University Budget Office for full-time beginning students in 2001. Comparable figures for the incoming 1999 and 2000 classes were 74.8 percent and 75.5 percent, respectively.\n"The progress reflected in these numbers is but one indication that the University is on the right track to improving degree attainment on all of our campuses," Charlie Nelms, IU's vice president for student development and diversity, said in a statement.\nThe Lilly Endowment, an $8 million grant originally awarded in 1997, has helped IU in its retention efforts. The program is in place to try to increase the numbers of Indiana residents who obtain college degrees. \nThe Lilly Endowment, an Indianapolis-based, private philanthropic organization, wished to specifically combat the state's ranking of 47th in the nation in the percentage of college-educated workers. IU President Myles Brand said IU's program is critical because 23 percent of the state's undergraduates are enrolled at one of its campuses.\nA number of initiatives to improve retention were created, many of which were initially funded by the Lilly grant. Creating a stronger student community and greater student integration into campus academic life; providing more out-of-classroom support for learning; improving advising and career development for students; and stepping up contact with students who are at risk of leaving are among the key strategies.\n"Continual contact with students to reinforce their goal of a degree also enhances the likelihood they'll stay in college," said Deborah A. Freund, who helped plan the proposal for the Lilly Endowment. "IU plans to increase its interpersonal, career and academic advisory contacts with students." \nIU's retention rates rose university-wide. Seven of IU's campuses had higher retention rates than last year's rates. At IU Bloomington, the retention rate increased from 86.3 percent to 87 percent. \n"We certainly have made some progress, and even the small increases at Bloomington are significant," said Mike Wilkerson, who works for the Division of Student Development and Diversity Support and researches retention. \nDean of Students Richard McKaig agrees that even minor improvements are significant. "IUB's retention rates are very high," he said. \n"If improvements can be made, they may be small. Requiring new students to live on campus is one strategy to help increase retention further." \nBoth IU Northwest and IU-Purdue University at Indianapolis have two consecutive years of significant gains -- IUPUI moving from 58.2 percent to 61.6 percent to 64.8 percent and IU Northwest going from 57.6 percent to 59.7 percent to 66.3 percent. IU Kokomo and IU Southeast also sharply increased their retention rates this year. IUK's rate went from 52.9 percent for the 2000 incoming class to 66.0 percent for the 2001 class; IUS moved from 63.8 percent to 70.9 percent. At IU East, the improvement was from 55.8 percent to 58.1 percent, and at IU South Bend it was from 64.4 percent to 66.4 percent, according to a press release.\nNelms said increased student retention around the university was an important factor in IU's record enrollment this fall.