IU retention rate ranks in middle of Big Ten schools

Eleven percent of IU freshmen don’t return for their sophomore year, according to a report published by the University.

While IU’s 88.7 percent retention rate is higher than the national average of 86 percent, it is in the middle of the range when compared to other Big Ten universities.

A comprehensive list of freshman retention rates by U.S. News and World Report calculated the average proportion of freshmen entering in fall 2006 through fall 2009 who returned for a second year.

Pennsylvania State University, Michigan State University and University of Wisconsin all reported retention rates of more than 90 percent. University of Iowa reported an 85 percent retention rate, and University of Missouri
reported 85 percent.

Although most universities do not give departing students an exit survey, the reasons freshmen leave vary from family problems to loneliness to academic
struggles to a lack of money.

Daniel Mount, a student accepted to IU for fall 2009, did not return for his
sophomore year. He said that although finances were his primary reason for leaving, he was also overwhelmed by the size of the campus.

“I’m from a really small town and couldn’t get over the culture shock of going to school with 40,000 other students,” he said. “IU was helpful in explaining my options and giving advice, but in the end, no one could have changed my mind about leaving.”

Last year, the Center for Enrollment Research, Policy and Practice and IU’s Project on Academic Success published a report revealing universities could devote more resources to the effort to retain more freshman students.

National institutions were surveyed about their efforts to improve student retention, and most universities reported that they regularly analyze the rates.

Some also had retention coordinators and retention committees.

Vasti Torres, director of the Project on Academic Success and a professor of educational leadership and policy studies, said the report can be used for data but will also help universities develop better findings.

“This report presents survey data for comparison by institutional type as well as actionable findings that campus officials and policy makers can use in their efforts to improve student persistence and graduation rates at their institutions,” she said.

The report emphasizes the importance of early assessment and warning systems, as well as more administrators to follow through with students.

IU now implements the Fostering Learning, Achievement and Graduation Early Alert System.

The initiative aims to increase engagement in the classroom setting and provides feedback to students and advisers. The system asks professors to monitor attendance and quiz performance.

“I was attending class and doing fine grade-wise, so the system probably wouldn’t have motivated me to stay,” Mount said.

Still, Torres said the system is a step in the right direction.

“Until now, the efforts of institutions to boost measures of student success through their policies and practices have been relatively unexamined and have remained poorly understood,” she said.