higher education assignment
TJ 
Wk4AssgnJonesT.pptStudent Retention in Higher Education
- Tangela Jones
- Walden University
- EDUC 6960
- Dr. R Theroux
Problem statement and rationale
The project has focused on a problem that is affecting Universities and it is student retention
The university that has I chose to research is Southern New Hampshire University.
Based on my research I found that Southern New Hampshire University has an retention rate of 61%
It therefore means that out of 100 students, only 61 get to proceed with their education
The factors that promote the problem have been addressed
The problem that the project has focused on is the problem of student retention. Retention is essential in schools and workplaces. The reason behind it is associated with the fact that retention rate is a measure that is used to dictate the success rate of an organization(Seidman, 2019). When the rate of retention is high, it means that the level of satisfaction is high as well.
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Continuation
Student retention has effects on students and institutions
The trust of potential students is built by the reputation of the institution
When an institution has a bad reputation, potential students are scared off
The project will look into the problem with the aim of coming up with the best solution
The areas that need to be changed will also be highlighted.
Retention rate in schools and organizations are motivated by different factors. At the same time, the rate of retention has effects on the people who seek the services of an organization or institution(Seidman, 2019). Therefore, there is a dire need to look into factors that promote retention as well as ways to boost the rates of retention.
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Summary of literature review
For an University to succeed, there is a need to have high rates of student retention
Retaining students is something that should be done by the administration
There are different ways in which the administration of a University can raise retention rate
However, there are steps that it must follow
The first step is to understand factors that reduce and increase the rates of retention
Universities have an obligation to make sure that the rates of retention are high. When the rates of retention are low, it is evident that something is not well and there is a need to know what is not well. Universities should focus more on knowing the factors that influence retention. By having such knowledge, it becomes possible to point out to areas that need to be looked into.
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Continuation……
The learning environment of any university must be suitable for its students
When the learning environment is not suitable, retention rate decrease
There are different factors that affect the learning environment
Teachers and staff members can increase the rate of retention by being more considerate
The learning resources and equipment can also affect the rate or retention
The main reason why students seek to enroll in Universities is to make sure that they acquire the skills that they need to build their career (Seidman, 2019). Therefore, it means that when the learning environment frustrates the students from achieving their goals, they opt to leave for other Universities. The people who deal with the students also have an impact on the rate of retention. When they are good to the students, the students opt to stay instead of leaving for another University.
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Goals for the project
Understand more about student retention
Identify factors that promote student retention
Look into factors that promote student retention
Identify the solutions for low retention rates at Southern New Hampshire University
The goals of the project are associated with the problem of low rates of retention within the higher education sector(Seidman, 2019). The main aim of the project is to help. Therefore, the project expounds more on the issue of student retention, looks into factors that affect student retention, and then provides solutions for the problem at hand.
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Description of the local context
The issue of student retention has effects locally
The University that has been used to state the problem is Southern New Hampshire University
The University has a retention rate of 61%
The retention rate is too low and that shows that the problem is locally affecting the institutions
Locally, the problem of student retention is affecting Universities. It is dangerous when it gets to a point that an institution has a retention rate of slightly above fifty percent. In this respect, it is evident that there is a need to look into the problem locally because it has effects on the local higher education sector.
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Activities, initiatives, or strategies
Engaging students in the school decision making process.
The use of sports activities that bring students together and make them feel like equal members of the institution.
Promote a positive and friendly attitude from the teachers and staff members
Activities that bring the members of staff and the students together will help in providing a solution for the problem. It is imperative to note that relationships are essential in institutions and when they are fostered, they might discourage the students from leaving. Engaging the students in the decision making process of the University is also another strategy that will help in finding a solution to the problem.
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Continuation
Students versus staff team building activities
Creation of platforms to air out views
Increased resources
The promotion of equality through sensitization and awareness
Promote diversity within the management
Create policies that help the new students to feel as part and parcel of the institution
The reason why there are drop out cases is because the learning environment ejects students when they are still fresh and new(Seidman, 2019). Having programs that embrace the new students will increase the rate of retention. Promotion of diversity will also be of great help to different students. All students will feel as part and parcel of the institution.
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Deliverables or outcomes
The main outcome of the project is increased retention rate
The outcomes will be seen in the following ways
Increased parent satisfaction
Increased student satisfaction
Improved relationships between students and the administration
A suitable learning environment
Diversity within the institution
The main aim of the project is to make sure that retention rates are increased at the University. The outcomes will only be attained if the factors that affect retention rate will be dealt with(Seidman, 2019). The r project will make sure that factors that promote the problem are dealt with once and for all.
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Project Evaluation and assessment
The project will be measured using two metrics
The first one is the beating of the deadlines
The project will be divided into stages and meeting the deadline of each stage will be proof that it is headed in the right direction
The second metric is associated with the retention rates
Signs of increasing retention rates will be used to dictate if the project is attaining its goals or not
The main aim of the project is to bring change (Dula, Lampley, & Lampley, 2018). Therefore, proof of change will be used to dictate if the project is headed in the right direction or not. Increased rate of retention will come a long way to help to know if the project is headed in the right direction or not.
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A proposed timeline
The project will take eight weeks
Weekends will not be counted
The reason why it will take eight weeks is associated with the magnitude of the problem
The problem that is at hand if not discovered might lead to the negative effect on your institute .
Therefore, it needs some time
The time that the project will last is eight weeks. The eight weeks are aimed at helping the project team to identify the problems at hand. At the same time, the creation of solutions will take place within the eight weeks.
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Budget
A budget of $1,000 will be needed to cater for the needs of the project team.
Devices that will be used to store data will also be needed (Laptops and Tablets).
A team of seven permanent project members will be needed.
The team will survey Administration ,Faculty and current & former Students .
My team will provide feedback in the form of data analysis.
Data analysis will highlight the areas that needs improvement.
The project will cost $1000 only. The money will be used to purchase the resources that are needed to complete the project. At the same time, the money will be used to take care of the needs of the project team
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THE END
References
Dula, M. E., Lampley, S. A., & Lampley, J. H. (2018). Undergraduate Retention Rates for Students in Learning Support Math Classes versus Traditional Math Classes Controlling for ACT Mathematics Scores. Journal of Learning in Higher Education, 14(1), 1-6.
Seidman, A. (2019). Minority Student Retention: The Best of the" Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice." Routledge.
“Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.” – Henry Ford
