Executive Summary
RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE PRESIDENT’S COMMITTEE ON UNDERGRADUATE RETENTION
The President’s Committee on
Undergraduate Retention is composed of faculty and staff representing a broad
array of individuals from all of the University Schools/Colleges, especially
those directly associated with undergraduate retention.
These recommendations were
derived from extensive deliberations of the retention committee and evaluations
of research and best practices across the nation, as well as best practices at
Wayne State University. Additionally,
the WSU faculty had extensive input by numerous focus group meetings within the
larger stakeholder units that culminated in a University-wide survey of the
faculty. The survey had a remarkable
response rate (406 respondents). The
committee deliberations, as well as the survey, were focused in several ways.
First there was an extensive
evaluation of the retention data at WSU and the efforts to generate recommendations
addressed issues such as: barriers and access factors affecting retention,
effective interventions, and University standards. There was also an evaluation
of existing programs and where possible the recommendations took these into
account.
Each of our recommendations is
addressed from the point of view of (a) suggested responsible University organizational
structure and (b) resources required for implementation.
| Recommendation | Suggested Responsible Organizational Structure | Resources required for implementation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Create a highly visible central system for retention that coordinates retention activities and tracks efforts across academic and student units. | Provost via V.P. for Undergraduate Programs and General Education (UPGE), aided/ facilitated by a faculty advisory committee | Appropriate staff; creation of a special office with staff, if necessary, to increase visibility and integration of campus-wide efforts. | Full Text |
| 2. Facilitate the use of student retention data for self-assessment by departments. Establish coordinators for each department responsible for maintaining student data and evaluating retention and other outcomes based on criteria established by the department. | V.P. for UPGE via Deans via Department Heads; aided by faculty advisory committee. | Department reorganization of responsibilities. | Full Text |
| 3. Enhance faculty involvement with undergraduate students by providing support and incentives for their efforts. | Provost via Deans via Department faculty; faculty advisory committee | Funded incentive programs to promote faculty involvement; revise evaluation criteria to value excellent teaching; create teaching lines | Full Text |
| 4. Develop and enhance support programs to improve retention specifically for at-risk and working students. | Provost via V.P. for UPGE | Increase or adequate staffing of the UPGE office and the new Career Services Council | Full Text |
| 5. Enhance the structure and time of participation in orientation programs for all new undergraduate students. | Provost via V.P. for UPGE. |
Additional staff and faculty for undergraduate education. | Full Text |
| 6. Enhance the implementation and enforcement of academic preparedness assessment and competency requirements. | Provost via V.P. for UPGE; Office of Institutional Research. | Increase staff and resources to implement and monitor process. | Full Text |
| 7. Establish earlier cutoff dates for drop and add classes and enforce Early Academic Assessment (EAA) policy. | Provost via V.P. for UPGE; Deans and Departments. | Deans and Department enforcement of rules. | Full Text |
| 8. Enhance the culture of student responsibility for success. | Provost via V.P. for UPGE. | Support for orientation, seminars and other resources to change culture. | Full Text |
| 9. Enhance monitoring and success in entry-level courses. | Provost; V.P. for UPGE, Deans and Departments. | Major funding investment for integrated 1st-year experience; create lines and support for excellent Gen Ed teachers | Full Text |
| 10. Enhance current “provisional admissions” programs and require increased commitment from students in those programs. | Provost via V.P. UPGE via directors of special programs; students. | Increase staff necessary for monitoring and advising. | Full Text |
| 11. Monitor admissions standards and make greater use of non-matriculant status for students with very low academic preparedness. Review the admissions process for students who do not meet standard admissions criteria. | Provost: Reevaluation of University policy. | Adopt the suggestions of the retention committee or adopt a modification of the suggestions. | Full Text |
| 12. Address the need for expert teaching of remedial-level courses in proportion to the need set by enrollment. | Provost via Deans via Department Heads. | Department incentives and change/ reallocation of department efforts. Hire teachers commensurate to need set by admissions. | Full Text |
| 13. Initiate a follow-up program that focuses on causes of attrition. | V.P. for UPGE and Office of Institutional Research | Adequate staffing of the new Retention office. | Full Text |
| 14. Enhance advising efforts and contact for all students. | Provost via V.P. for UPGE. | Increase staff necessary for monitoring and advising. | Full Text |
| 15. Enhance financial aid and financial aid advising. | Provost via V.P. for UPGE | Enhance efficiency/effectiveness of existing structure. | Full Text |
| 16. Increase the use of peer mentoring and tutoring. | Provost via V.P. for UPGE. | Increase/enhance existing structure and resources. | Full Text |