Director of Institutional Research and Assessment The University of Findlay Fremont, Ohio, United States
Session Abstract: Bridging student and academic affairs, our collaborative project at The University of Findlay incorporates two items that impact change aligned with UF’s strategic plan. First, we endeavored to better understand student retention through building a more authentic picture of the student experience. Focusing on first-year students, we investigated what keeps them engaged. We determined our “sticky” factor (what does UF offer that makes students want to stay and strive toward graduation). Second, a formidable challenge our students face is academic preparedness for success in the classroom. While participating in the UF Preparedness Summit, visiting dozens of meetings and listening to many frustrations, we challenged our colleagues’ tendency to bemoan the students we wish we had and challenged them to embrace the students we do have. Incorporating the outcomes of our “stickiness” investigation and our preparedness campaign, our project shaped campus-wide retention initiatives.
